Philip Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Philip is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Philip?
Philip is spelled P-H-I-L-I-P. The name has 6 letters.
Philip at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Philip means “lover of horses,” derived from the Greek name Philippos which combines words for “horse” and “lover.”
- Origin
- Philip is a name of Greek origin, commonly associated with the ancient Greek name Philippos.
- Pronunciation
- FIL-ip · 2 syllables
Philip Popularity in 2025
Rank#527
Recorded Births568
- Boys usage fell 7 places to #527 and recorded 20 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Philip Mean?
Philip means “lover of horses,” derived from the Greek name Philippos which combines words for “horse” and “lover.”
Origin: Philip is a name of Greek origin, commonly associated with the ancient Greek name Philippos.
How Do You Pronounce Philip?
PronunciationFIL-ip
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Philip?
- History
- The name Philip was used in ancient Greek history and is associated with several historical figures, including kings and nobles.
Philip Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 568 | #527 |
| 2024 | Boys | 588 | #520 |
| 2023 | Boys | 605 | #499 |
| 2022 | Boys | 619 | #491 |
| 2021 | Boys | 675 | #451 |
| 2020 | Boys | 658 | #453 |
| 2019 | Boys | 696 | #439 |
| 2018 | Boys | 693 | #436 |
| 2017 | Boys | 729 | #426 |
| 2016 | Boys | 712 | #435 |
| 2015 | Boys | 708 | #432 |
| 2014 | Boys | 799 | #389 |
| 2013 | Boys | 769 | #387 |
| 2012 | Boys | 715 | #408 |
| 2011 | Boys | 696 | #406 |
| 2010 | Boys | 699 | #403 |
| 2009 | Boys | 765 | #393 |
| 2008 | Boys | 817 | #377 |
| 2007 | Boys | 881 | #358 |
| 2006 | Boys | 909 | #341 |
| 2005 | Boys | 993 | #325 |
| 2004 | Boys | 1,019 | #307 |
| 2003 | Boys | 1,075 | #289 |
| 2002 | Boys | 1,201 | #263 |
When Was Philip Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1954 · Boys
6,279 recorded births
National rank #62
1953 · Boys
6,279 recorded births
National rank #61
1947 · Boys
6,235 recorded births
National rank #57
1949 · Boys
6,224 recorded births
National rank #55
Where Philip Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MA | #335 | 16 |
| IN | #350 | 21 |
| OH | #363 | 30 |
| NY | #367 | 48 |
| MS | #370 | 8 |
| PA | #371 | 29 |
| LA | #376 | 13 |
| NJ | #377 | 21 |