Philip

How to say it

ˈfɪl.ɪp

What it means

Greek, 'lover of horses,' from philos, 'loving,' and hippos, 'horse.'

Philip joins the Greek philos, 'loving,' to hippos, 'horse,' giving 'lover of horses.' It was the name of Alexander the Great's father and one of the twelve apostles, and a steady royal name through Prince Philip. Phil and Pip are the shorts. Said FIL-ip.

How to spell Philip

The standard spelling is Philip. Common variants include Phillip, Felipe, Philippe, but Philip is the most widely used form.

Heads-up notes

• Nickname

  Phil, Pip.

• Worth knowing

  An apostle and the father of Alexander the Great; Prince Philip.

Who's worn it

Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.

• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh consort of Queen Elizabeth II from 1952 to 2021

Spelling variants

• Phillip
• Felipe
• Philippe

Names with the same feeling

• Peter Rock, stone
• Andrew Manly, brave
• Simon He has heard
• Vincent To conquer, prevailing
• Theodore Gift of God

See Philip from another angle

Common questions

What does the name Philip mean?

Greek, 'lover of horses,' from philos, 'loving,' and hippos, 'horse.'

What does Philip mean in Greek?

In Greek, Philip means "Lover of horses." Philip joins the Greek philos, 'loving,' to hippos, 'horse,' giving 'lover of horses.' It was the name of Alexander the Great's father and one of the twelve apostles, and a steady royal name through Prince Philip. Phil and Pip are the shorts. Said FIL-ip.

How do you pronounce Philip?

Philip is pronounced ˈfɪl.ɪp. Say it as PHIL-ip, with the stress on the "phil" syllable.

How do you spell Philip?

The standard spelling is Philip. Common spelling variants include Phillip, Felipe, Philippe.

Is Philip a boy or girl name?

Philip is traditionally a masculine name.

How popular is the name Philip?

Philip ranked #528 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.