Phillip is a name of Greek origin, meaning "lover of horses". It is derived from the Greek word "philios", which means "loving", and "hippos", meaning "horse". The name Phillip has been popular throughout history, with notable bearers including Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, and Saint Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ.
The name Phillip first appeared in England during the Norman Conquest in 1066, when William the Conqueror invaded from Normandy. The Normans brought with them many French names, including Phillip, which was derived from the Old French name Philippe. Over time, the name evolved into its current form in English-speaking countries.
Phillip has been a popular name throughout history and continues to be so today. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Phillip ranked among the top 1000 most popular boys' names every year between 1900 and 2019. In fact, it peaked at number 178 in popularity during the years 1960-1969.
Some famous people named Phillip include Phillip II of Spain, who ruled from 1556 to 1598; Sir Philip Sidney, an English poet and courtier during the Elizabethan era; and Phillip Schofield, a British television presenter known for hosting shows such as This Morning and Dancing on Ice.
The given statistics show the number of births with the name Phillip in the United States from 1880 to 2023. The data demonstrates a varied trend over time.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the number of babies named Phillip fluctuated annually between approximately 75 and 369 births per year. However, it began to rise significantly in the 1930s, with 1847 births recorded in 1936 alone.
The post-World War II era saw a substantial increase in Phillips born each year, peaking at 5201 births in 1949. This trend continued throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with the number of Phillips born annually exceeding 5000 between 1955 and 1967.
However, starting in the late 1960s, the popularity of the name Phillip began to decline. By 1972, there were fewer than 4000 Phillips born in the U.S., and this downward trend continued through the 1980s and 1990s.
The turn of the century marked a significant decrease in Phillips' popularity, with fewer than 2000 babies being named Phillip each year between 2000 and 2023. The most recent data shows that only 449 babies were named Phillip in 2023.
Overall, while Phillip was once among the top boys' names in the U.S., its popularity has significantly declined over the past few decades. As of 2023, it is no longer one of the most common boy's names in the country.