Philip

Meaning of name Phillip:

Philip comes from the Greek masculine personal name Fílippos, from the components “philein” which means 'love' and “hippos” which means 'horse'. Therefore, Phillip's name is defined as 'horse lover'. This ancient Greek name has been popular since ancient times. It was born by the father of Alexander the Great, Philip II of Macedon, in the 4th century BC In the classical period of ancient Greece, when horses were a vital part of life, Philip was a name shared by dozens of men, from the generals of the army of philosophers, from the astronomer kings of Macedonia, from the statesmen to the poets and from the historians to the emperors. From a religious point of view, Philip the Apostle was one of Jesus Twelve Apostles and Philip the Evangelist was a spreader of Christian enthusiasts. In the Middle Ages, Philip was a name shared by several of the kings of France, Spain, and Portugal, not to mention other royals across Europe. Indeed, Philip has been a long enduring name with illustrious examples of men throughout 2,500 years of history. Other versions of the name include: Philippos (Greek), Filipo (Ancient Latin), Philip or Phillip (English), Philippe (French), Filippo (Italian), and Felipe (Spanish/Portuguese). The female equivalent is Philippa English (Pippa). Felipe has been a long lasting name with illustrious examples of men throughout 2500 years of history. Other versions of the name include: Philippos (Greek), Filipo (Ancient Latin), Philip or Phillip (English), Philippe (French), Filippo (Italian), and Felipe (Spanish/Portuguese). The female equivalent is Philippa English (Pippa). Felipe has been a long lasting name with illustrious examples of men throughout 2500 years of history. Other versions of the name include: Philippos (Greek), Filipo (Ancient Latin), Philip or Phillip (English), Philippe (French), Filippo (Italian), and Felipe (Spanish/Portuguese). The female equivalent is Philippa English (Pippa).

Popularity

Philip has had a long and memorable journey on the US charts. The name was a Top 100 favorite of the 19th century all the way up to 1990. That's a long, successful ride on the male naming charts to be sure. However, as with Phillip, the name has taken a nosedive as we have entered the 21st century. No longer a popular choice for young boys in the United States, Philip has retreated to levels of mild moderation. The name just doesn't fit the styles of today's naming trends. Today's fashion prefers more eccentric biblical names (Noah, Elijah, Caleb) or surnames as given names (Mason, Logan, Jackson) or other traditional classics (Michael, William, Alexander). American parents have left once popular names like Felipe, Luis and Francisco behind in the dust. On the one hand, we are sad to see them left by the wayside. On the other hand, their lack of use today makes them more original options. And given Philip's long line of royal namesakes, that is a given name rather than prince.

famous people named Philip

Prince Philip (Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince Consort of Elizabeth II)

Philip Seymour Hoffman (actor)

Philip Roth (author)

Philip Ross (hockey player)

Philip Stacey (American Idol Season 6 finalist)

Philip Handler (football player)

Philip Hartman (Actor/Comedian)

Philip Hellmuth (Poker Player)

Phil Ivey (Poker Player)

Phil Jackson (Basketball Coach)

Phil Lynott (Musician)

Phil Mickelson (Golfer)

Philip Weintraub (Baseball Player)

Philip Glass (Songwriter)

Philip Rivers (football player)

Philip Collins (musician)

Dr. Philip (TV character)