Origin, Meaning, And History of Philip
The name Philip originates from the Greek word “Philippos,” which means “the lover of horses.” The name has gained popularity since the 4th century B.C., the time of Philip II (Macedon), the father of Alexander the Great. In ancient Greece, horses played a vital role in the life of people. The name Philip was held so high that it was shared by almost everyone ranging from philosophers to poets, emperors to historians, statesmen to the Kings of Macedon, and astronomers to the army generals. In the medieval era, the name Philip was used throughout Europe by the kings and other royals of the state. The country Philippines was named after the Spanish emperor King Philip II.
Some variations of the name Philip include Philippos, Philippus, Philipp, Filippo, and Felipe. The feminine equivalent of this name is Philippa or Philippine.
Other prominent modern-time people named Philip includePrince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, husband to Queen Elizabeth II. He served the British Monarch, beginning from the time of Elizabeth’s accession until his death. He has been one of the longest-serving dukes in history. Since then, the name has been quite popular with parents searching for a classic baby boy name.
The name Philip has also found its place in popular culture.Philip Pirrip, also called Pip, was the main character and the narrator in the novel Great Expectations by Charles Dickens.Prince Phillipis a character from Disney’s 1959 film Sleeping Beauty who falls in love with a peasant girl in the forest and stays oblivious to the fact that she is the actual princess Aurora.
Philip “Phil” Rupert Diffyis a character from Disney’s Phil of the Future who hides the fact that he came from the future. Lastly, people also admirePhilip Blakefrom The Walking Dead, a fascinating character with extraordinary leadership skills.
How To Pronounce Philip?
The way you pronounce a name can make all the difference.
Listen to the sound of the name Philip in English.
Famous People With The Name Philip
- Prince PhilipDuke of Edinburgh
- Philip David Charles CollinsBritish musician and composer, known for playing drums
- Philip Seymour HoffmanAmerican actor famous for his unique supporting roles
- 菲利普·格拉斯American composer known for his “music with repetitive structures”
- Philip Parker KingA naval officer
- Philip Allen SharpMolecular biologist known for the discovery of RNA splicing
- Phillip NoyceAn Australian filmmaker who has directed films on various genres
- Philip GriffithsAmerican mathematician known for his contribution to the field of geometry
Philip On The Popularity Chart
Have a look at the organizational chart issued by the Social Security Administration depicting how Philip gained its share of fame as a popular name in the US before its steady decline.
Popularity Over Time
During the 1980s and early 1990s, the name Philip was reasonably popular. However, during the 2000s, its popularity saw a decline. Check the graph to know the details.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Philip ranked 12,245th in 1980 but moved on to 20,931st in 2007, showing that its usage was consistently declining. However, its ranking improved after this year and reached 17,995th place in 2020. Look at the graph to understand the highs and lows the name has faced.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Philip
If you like the sound of the name Philip but are looking for a different meaning, have a look at some of the other versions of this name below.
Popular Sibling Names For Philip
If you are looking for some matching sibling names that resonate with Philip, check our suggestions here.
Boy Sibling Names For Philip
Find matching brother names for Philip and create a wonderful team of siblings.
Phelps
Philbert
Philibert
Philipa
Philipp
Philippa
Philippe
Philippos
Philippus
Philips
Girl Sibling Names For Philip
Looking for some suitable sister names for Philip? Check out our collection of beautiful and unique names.
Felberta
Felipa
Filberta
Filiberta
Filipa
Filipina
Filippa
Philberta
Philippina
Phillipa
Other Popular Names Beginning With P
寻找更多的婴儿的名字starting with the letter P to resonate with your family’s naming tradition or to rhyme with the sibling names? Find a range of alternative names starting with this letter.
Names With Similar Meaning As Philip
Liked the meaning of the name Philip but looking for other options to try out? Check these names below.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
philip
In Sign Language
philip
In Braille Alphabet
philip
In Morse Code
philip
Name Numerology For Philip
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Phillip?
菲利普这个名字我ans a friend and lover of horses.
2. What is the origin of the name Phillip?
Phillip has Greek and Norwegian origins.
3. How to pronounce the name Phillip?
Phillip is pronounced as phil-lip.
4. Are there any interesting cultural or religious associations with the name Phillip?
Because the name Phillip, in Greek, signifies a person who loves horses, it has been associated with numerous rulers in the past as horses were an integral part of warfare and military campaigns. Some examples include Philip I, Philip II, Philip the Tetrarch, and Philip (son of Antipater).
5. Are there any intriguing facts or anecdotes about people named Phillip throughout history?
Philip I, or Philip the Arab, was the Roman emperor mentioned as the first Christian Roman Emperor by the historian Eusebius in his Ecclesiastical History. Another Philip III of Macedon was the half-elder brother of Alexander the Great, who took over the reign as the king of Macedonia after his brother died in 323 BC (1).
6. How does the name Phillip rank in popularity over the years?
Phillip has consistently ranked as one of the most popular baby boy names in the United States. As per the Social Security Administration, the name secured its highest-ever ranking in 2020 when it was in 519th place on the chart (2).
References:
- Philip III Arrhidaeus, Macedon
https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/term/BIOG55300 - Popularity of the name Phillip.
https://www.ssa.gov/cgi-bin/babyname.cgi
