Philippa Girl

Popularity: #887 · Trend: → Stable

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.

PenelopePriscillaPhoebePatriciaPoppyPaige

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.

PippaPhilomenaPhilomelaFeliciaFelicityPenelopePrudence

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Philippa was first seen in the United States in 1910.

Philippa has ranked as high as #4314 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.

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 Total Births Girl
2025 61 61
2024 67 67
2023 67 67
2022 75 75
2021 66 66
2020 59 59
2019 50 50
2018 67 67
2017 73 73
2016 74 74
2015 61 61
2014 65 65
2013 43 43
2012 51 51
2011 53 53
2010 25 25
2009 18 18
2008 17 17
2007 11 11
2006 17 17
2005 12 12
2004 15 15
2003 10 10
2002 16 16
2001 9 9
2000 8 8
1999 15 15
1998 10 10
1997 14 14
1996 6 6
1995 10 10
1994 13 13
1993 11 11
1992 7 7
1991 7 7
1990 11 11
1989 9 9
1988 23 23
1987 12 12
1986 7 7
1985 12 12
1984 6 6
1983 10 10
1982 8 8
1981 11 11
1980 7 7
1979 6 6
1978 6 6
1977 8 8
1976 5 5
1975 8 8
1974 8 8
1972 6 6
1971 9 9
1970 5 5
1969 11 11
1967 10 10
1966 14 14
1965 13 13
1964 15 15
1963 16 16
1962 10 10
1961 12 12
1960 13 13
1959 11 11
1958 10 10
1957 12 12
1956 5 5
1955 14 14
1954 7 7
1953 14 14
1952 12 12
1951 7 7
1950 9 9
1949 6 6
1948 19 19
1947 9 9
1946 9 9
1945 6 6
1944 9 9
1940 6 6
1938 7 7
1937 6 6
1936 9 9
1935 7 7
1934 9 9
1933 9 9
1932 6 6
1928 6 6
1927 7 7
1925 8 8
1924 8 8
1923 5 5
1922 9 9
1921 15 15
1920 11 11
1919 8 8
1918 19 19
1917 11 11
1916 6 6
1915 5 5
1910 5 5

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 10
43%
NY 7
30%
MA 6
26%