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Philip
Fact sheet
- Name
- Philip
- Gender
- Boy name
- Syllables
- 2
Philip represents the English variant of the name Philipp. The origin of this first name lies in the ancient Greek Phílippos and means 'the horse lover', derived from the ancient Greek words philos (friend) and hippos (horse).
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip is the English spelling of Philipp and originates from the ancient Greek name Phílippos, which means 'the horse lover'. This meaning arises from the ancient Greek terms philos (friend) and hippos (horse). While the spelling Philip is mainly prevalent in English-speaking regions, it is also used in Germany as a boy's name, albeit less frequently than the German form Philipp with two p's. Philip has a long history that dates back to 650 BC. Further details about this first name can be found under Philipp. In Germany, there are various spelling variants, with Philipp being the most common, followed by Philip. Other spellings include Phillip, Filip, and in rare cases, Phillipp. International variants are Felipe (Portuguese, Spanish), Filippo (Italian), and Philippe (French).
Where does the name Philip come from?
The name Philip is the English form of Philipp and has its roots in the Greek name Phílippos. This is composed of the ancient Greek words philos (friend) and hippos (horse). Ancient Greek Macedonian
How do you pronounce Philip?
The pronunciation of Philip is two syllables and clear. In the German language, the name is usually pronounced as 'Phi-lip' [ˈfiːlɪp], with the first syllable having a long 'i' that defines the sound. The ending with 'p' provides a distinct accent. Philip conveys an impression of tradition and modernity, radiating calmness, structure, and presence.
When is the name day of Philip?
The name day for Philip is celebrated on May 3, May 26, October 19, and December 18.
Popularity
In Germany, the name Philip enjoys great popularity. The first name currently ranks 414th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best ranking was in 1983 at position 63. In the last ten years, Philip has been chosen about 3,100 times as a first name, securing him the 230th place in the ten-year statistics. Between 2010 and 2024, he ranks 181st. Worldwide, Philip also shows varying popularity in different countries.
Nicknames & pet names
Flip / Flippo / Lip / Phi / Phiete / Phil / Philatio / Phili / Philipo / Philippo / Phille / Philli / Phillo / Philly / Phily / Phip / Phips / Phipsi / Phipsu / Phipu / Pille / Pilli / Pippo
Similar first names
Famous people
- David Philip Hefti (Swiss composer)
- Philip Baumgarten (actor)
- Philip Boit (* 1971) Kenyan cross-country skier
- Philip Dalton Hepworth (architect from Great Britain)
- Philip David Charles Collins (English singer, Phil Collins)
- Philip Doyle (American football player)
- Philip Geipel (racing driver)
- Philip Grierson (British historian)
- Philip Hagreen (English artist)
- Philip Jay Frey (comic artist)
- Philip John Clapp (Johnny Knoxville) (actor and stuntman (Jackass))
- Philip Joseph Hartog (English chemist)
- Philip Köster (windsurfer)
- Philip Köstring (German actor)
- Philip Michael Lester (British YouTuber)
- Philip Moore Callow Kermode (English historian)
- Philip Mountbatten (British prince consort)
- Philip Nelson (football player from America)
- Philip Nicol (English painter)
- Philip Pocock (artist from Canada)
Frequently asked questions about the name Philip
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip means 'the horse lover' and originates from the ancient Greek name Phílippos, which is composed of the words philos (friend) and hippos (horse).
Where does the name Philip come from?
Philip is the English form of the Greek name Phílippos and has its roots in Ancient Greek.
How popular is the name Philip in Germany?
In Germany, the spelling Philip is less common than the German form Philipp, but it is still used. There are also other variants like Phillip and Filip.