About the name Phillip

Note: This article may feature affiliate links to Amazon or other companies, and purchases made via these links may earn us a small commission at no additional cost to you. Find out more here.

If you like the name Phillip, find out the meaning, origin, nicknames, variations and other information to help you decide if you want to use this first name for your baby.

Name meaning, variations & etymology

From ancient Greek, meaning someone who loves horses
In the United States, the name Phillip reached peak popularity (#65) in 1980
The name of one of the Biblical 12 apostles
A popular variation is Philip
Commonly abbreviated to Phil
When used as a last name, it’s usually Phillips or Philips
Feminine versions of this name include Philippa, Phillipa, Philipinna, Filippa, Filipa
Modern regional variants include Philippe (French), Felipe (Spanish/Portuguese), Filippo (Italian)
Ancient variations include Philippos (Ancient Greek), Philippse (Welsh), Philippus (Ancient Latin)

The text below is excerpted with permission from the book The Encyclopedia of American Last Names: Family Genealogy and Meanings for 1000 Surnames of Early European Settlers to the United States.

History of the name Phillip

Emperors and kings, princes and dukes have borne the names of Phillips or Philip, and the family has a rich heritage in its traditions.

The name is nearly as old as the world itself. Philippi was a city of ancient Macedonia, and the founder of Macedonia was a man named Phillip.

The name is of Greek origin, from philos hippos, meaning a lover of horses.

Phillips has been a surname in Great Britain for 700 years, and the family can be traced back in unbroken line to the year 1200.

It is not an easy matter to keep track of the spelling of the name. In Wales, where the family flourished, Philippse is the usual form, and the oldest coat-armor of the family is that granted to the Welsh branch. The coat is extremely simple, proving its antiquity.

Among various orthographies, the following may be given as samples: Phylyppe — two “ys” certainly confer great distinction — but don’t adopt them unless able to live up to them!

Then there are Phillips, a form seen at the present day; Philopoe; Phillot; Philippo; Philcox is called a diminutive, and Phelp, Phelpa, Philipson are derived from the same root. Phipp and Filkin are also derived from Philip.

origin/Nationality

Greek

Also check out these name groups

Greek baby boy names, Boy names, English baby boy names, Names that start with P

baby Name length

7 letters (popular name length)

See related baby names

baby boy names, biblical, english, greek, philip, phillip

FREE baby name printable

Click below to download a large version of this baby name design! You can create something great with this graphic: print it out and frame it as a decoration for your baby’s room, or use the design for a cut file to use with an electronic cutting machine (such as a Cricut or Silhouette).

After clicking the name image below, look in the upper right for saving and sharing options. This download is for personal use only, but if you know someone who might like one of their own, please send them a link to this site!