Philippa Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FIL-ih-pah //ˈfɪlɪpə//
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: lover of horses; Latin: friend of horses
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Philippa is derived from the Greek name "Philippos," which means "lover of horses" (from "philos," meaning "loving," and "hippos," meaning "horse"). This name was borne by several notable historical figures, including Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great.
The name made its way into Latin as "Philippa" and subsequently into Old French, where it became popular among the nobility. By the time it entered the English language in the medieval period, it had already been established as a feminine form of Philip, reflecting the common practice of feminizing male names in various cultures.
Philippa gained prominence in the Middle Ages, particularly in England, where it was borne by several queens and noblewomen. One of the most notable figures was Philippa of Hainault, who became Queen Consort of Edward III of England in the 14th century.
Her marriage in 1328 helped to strengthen ties between England and Hainault, and she was known for her charitable works and influence in the royal court. The name also appears in various historical texts and documents, further solidifying its place in English history.
Culturally, Philippa has been associated with strength and nobility, often linked to the virtues of leadership and loyalty. The name has been celebrated in literature and art, reflecting its enduring appeal across generations.
A common diminutive form, "Pippa," has also emerged, which retains the essence of the original name while providing a more informal and affectionate variant. Overall, the name Philippa embodies a rich historical legacy, rooted in classical antiquity and shaped by the significant figures who have borne it throughout the centuries.
Famous people named Philippa
In this section, you will find notable people named Philippa. 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 Philippa who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Philippa 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.
Philippa Gregory is a historical novelist best known for The Other Boleyn Girl, Wideacre, and The Queen's Fool.
Philippa Langley is a screenwriter and producer best known for The Lost King and her work in the Richard III Society.
Fictional characters named Philippa
The following list of fictional characters named Philippa is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Philippa Georgina is a fictional character from the novel series The Witcher by Andrzej Sapkowski. She is a powerful sorceress and a key player in the political intrigues of the Continent.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Philippa, 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 Philippa. 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 Philippa was first seen in the United States in 1910.
Philippa has ranked as high as #1318 nationally, which occurred in 2022, and has been most popular in New York, California, Virginia, Texas, and Massachusetts.
In the past 5 years the name Philippa has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Philippa 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 Philippa was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Philippa (2024)
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.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 10 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| MA | 6 |
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 Philippa.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 66 |
| 2023 | 67 |
| 2022 | 75 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2020 | 59 |
| 2019 | 50 |
| 2018 | 67 |
| 2017 | 73 |
| 2016 | 74 |
| 2015 | 61 |
| 2014 | 65 |
| 2013 | 43 |
| 2012 | 51 |
| 2011 | 53 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2009 | 18 |
| 2008 | 17 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2005 | 12 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 1999 | 15 |
| 1998 | 10 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 1995 | 10 |
| 1994 | 13 |
| 1993 | 11 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 7 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 23 |
| 1987 | 12 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 12 |
| 1984 | 6 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1982 | 8 |
| 1981 | 11 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1979 | 6 |
| 1978 | 6 |
| 1977 | 8 |
| 1976 | 5 |
| 1975 | 8 |
| 1974 | 8 |
| 1972 | 6 |
| 1971 | 9 |
| 1970 | 5 |
| 1969 | 11 |
| 1967 | 10 |
| 1966 | 14 |
| 1965 | 13 |
| 1964 | 15 |
| 1963 | 16 |
| 1962 | 10 |
| 1961 | 12 |
| 1960 | 13 |
| 1959 | 11 |
| 1958 | 10 |
| 1957 | 12 |
| 1956 | 5 |
| 1955 | 14 |
| 1954 | 7 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 12 |
| 1951 | 7 |
| 1950 | 9 |
| 1949 | 6 |
| 1948 | 19 |
| 1947 | 9 |
| 1946 | 9 |
| 1945 | 6 |
| 1944 | 9 |
| 1940 | 6 |
| 1938 | 7 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 9 |
| 1935 | 7 |
| 1934 | 9 |
| 1933 | 9 |
| 1932 | 6 |
| 1928 | 6 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 8 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1922 | 9 |
| 1921 | 15 |
| 1920 | 11 |
| 1919 | 8 |
| 1918 | 19 |
| 1917 | 11 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1915 | 5 |
| 1910 | 5 |