The baby name Philip is a traditional possibility that remains nicely under-the-radar.
Thanks to Lola for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME PHILIP MEAN?
The baby name Philip comes from the Greek Philippos. It means “friend of horses” from the elements philos – friend – and hippos – horses.
It’s been used steadily across the millennia.
Five kings of Macedon were Philip. Alexander the Great’s dad reigned as Philip II.
The name appears in the New Testament, too, his story most detailed in the Book of John. One of the apostles, he was friend to Nathanael and attended the wedding at Cana, where Jesus turned water to wine.
It’s on the map, too. One of the sons of Herod named a city after himself: Caesarea Philippi. Today it’s known as Bonias.
Not surprisingly, the name occurs in nearly every European language. Felipe and Filip are common forms.
ONE L OR TWO?
And, of course, plenty of surnames developed from Philip, including Phelps and Phillips.
The two-L spelling – Phillip – comes form the surname form.
For most of US naming history, the single-L spelling ranked higher. That change around the middle of the 20th century. Phillip led in the rankings for decades. Now the two names are similar in usage.
COMPOSERS & KINGS
Besides the five kings of Macedon, two rulers of the Seleucid Empire and a Roman emperor, historians, statesmen, and saints born the name Philip.
In the early Middle Ages, it became a favorite choice for the Kings of France, as well as rulers of Spain, Portugal, Navarre, Burgundy, Savoy, Artois and Flanders. The current King of Spain is Felipe VI.
Philip, in fact, is the rare name that appears consistently in the historical record over centuries. More modern Philips include:
- Composer Glass.
- Writers Roth and Dick.
- Former talk show host Donahue.
- Athletes, including NFL quarterback Rivers and golfer Mickelson. Phil Jackson played in the NBA, but was probably more famous as coach of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s.
- Heavy metal’s Anselmo, frontman of Pantera, and Thin Lizzy’s Lynott. Drummer Phil Collins graduated from Genesis to a successful independent career.
- Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman is among the most famous actors by the name.
- Long running travel documentary Somebody Feed Phil feature Philip Rosenthal traveling the world to discover the best of every region’s cuisine.
And, of course, there’s self help guru Dr. Phil and that prognosticator of prognosticators, Punxsutawney Phil, the best known of the weather-predicting groundhogs.
Among the most famous fictional Philips is the hero of Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations, though he’s known as Pip. It’s the first name of Raymond Chandler’s detective Marlowe. Nickelodeon gives us animated twins Phil and Lil DeVille on The Rugrats.
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH
Perhaps the most famous Philip in recent generations was born Prince Philip of Greece in 1921. His parents, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark Princess Alice of Battenberg, raised him in exile. Philip joined the Royal Navy and might’ve led a life of quiet privilege.
But then he met a young Princess Elizabeth. They were distantly related – third cousins. The couple would marry at Westminster Abbey in 1947. Prior to their marriage, Philip renounced his foreign titles and citizenship and became the His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich.
Together, the couple welcomed four children, including the current King Charles III. Their eight grandchildren include the current Prince of Wales, William, and well as his children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. In addition to William’s children, they have eleven other great-grandchildren, for fourteen total.
The princess became Queen in 1952; Philip was by her side throughout her reign. They are members of the House of Windsor, a surname chosen to distance England’s royal family from their German roots during the first World War. The name was borrowed from Windsor Castle.
Contemporary American audiences know something of their story thanks to television series The Crown.
Philip passed away in 2021, a year before his wife.
HOW POPULAR IS THE BABY NAME PHILIP?
Not surprisingly, this name translates into nearly any European language: Philippe in French, Felipe in Spanish, and Filip in many a Slavic tongue.
Both spellings have been very popular in the US over the years:
- The baby name Philip peaked at #52 in 1941. It was a Top 100 staple from 1880 through 1988.
- Phillip reached #65 in 1980. It also ranked in the Top 100 for many years, from 1937 through 1991.
Neither form is especially common right now.
The double-L spelling ranks #626 as of 2024, while the single-L stands at #521.
PAM VERSUS ANGELA
In 2012, a high-profile story featuring a baby Philip – wait, make that two, could have moved the needle on this name’s popularity.
When The Office’s eighth season debuted in September 2011, both Pam and Angela were expecting. And both wanted to use the same name for a son: Philip. Pam was inspired by her grandfather; Angela, by her cat.
They both dug their heels in and argued about who could use the name. In the end, both television families welcomed a baby Philip.
There’s a tiny uptick in both spellings of the name over the following few years.
But it didn’t truly reverse the course of Philip’s popularity.
ENDURING CLASSIC
From the ancient world and the early church to Hollywood and Buckingham Palace, the baby name Philip has belonged to some high profile figures.
Despite all that grandeur, there’s something quietly unassuming about Philip. It reads as traditional and capable, a strong name with history and talents to spare.
If you’re the kind of parents who prefer nickname-proof names, Philip could be a surprising option. While Phil feels more like your great-uncle or maybe the nice guy down the street, use the name in full, and it’s quite handsome.
Or take a page from Dickens, and call him Pip – or even Flip! – as a child.
It’s a great possibility for parents crushed that Luke, Theodore, William, and James are so very popular.
What do you think of the baby name Philip? Do you prefer it with one L or two?
This post was originally published on December 20, 2008. It was revised on June 13, 2016 and again on August 31, 2025.
That’s interesting!
I know a boy named Phillip, he is a very nice kid. I am always spelling his name wrong!
My dads name is Philip and he hates having to correct people with the spelling of only one ‘L’. He tells me to call my kids names that are obvious to spell. I get asked all the time is that Sarah with or without the ‘h’ – to me Sara isn’t Sarah at all. So I didn’t listen as I have to spell the most simple of names anyway and have named our third child with his name – Riley Philip 🙂 and I love it.
Philip/Phillip just does nothing for me. Maybe I know too many – it feels generic. And I hear “fill up” as though I’m going to go fill up my car with gas.
I like the name a lot but I dislike Phil so much 🙁 I like Flip and Pip though. I just don’t want to be constantly correcting people on which nickname to call him. I don’t want Phil to “stick”! I feel similarly about Thomas. Hate Tom/Tommy. Might have to just use as middle names.