Filipa Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: fee-LEE-pah /fɪˈlipə/
Origin: Portuguese; Spanish
Meaning: lover of horses (Greek); friend (Spanish)
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Filipa has its roots in the ancient Greek name Philippos, which is derived from the elements 'philos' meaning 'friend' and 'hippos' meaning 'horse.' This etymology suggests a literal meaning of 'lover of horses.' The name Philippos was adopted into Latin as Philippus, which subsequently influenced various forms in Romance languages, including Filipa in Portuguese and Spanish. The transition into English occurred through the Latin and Old French forms, leading to the modern English name Philip, with Filipa being a feminine variant that emerged in the medieval period.
Historically, the name Philip has been borne by numerous notable figures, including Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, and several saints, notably Saint Philip the Apostle. The name gained prominence in Christian contexts, particularly through the New Testament, where Saint Philip is mentioned as one of the twelve apostles.
The feminine form Filipa became more recognized in the Middle Ages, especially in regions influenced by the Iberian Peninsula, where it was often associated with nobility and royal lineage. Culturally, the name Filipa has been linked to themes of strength and loyalty, reflecting the noble connotations of its masculine counterpart.
In various cultures, the name has been celebrated in literature and art, often symbolizing grace and resilience. The diminutive form, Filipa can also appear as Pippa, which has historical roots in medieval England, further illustrating the name's adaptability across different languages and cultures.
Overall, Filipa carries a rich historical and cultural significance, rooted in ancient traditions and evolving through centuries.
Famous people named Filipa
In this section, you will find notable people named Filipa. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Filipa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Filipa who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Filipa de Almeida is a Portuguese singer best known for her work in the pop music genre.
Filipa Martins is a Portuguese actress best known for her roles in various television series and films.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Filipa, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Filipa. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Filipa was first seen in the United States in 2014.
Filipa has ranked as high as #1370 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Filipa has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Filipa is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Filipa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Filipa
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
No state data available for this year.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Filipa.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2014 | 5 |