Phillips Boy

Popularity: — · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: FIL-ips /ˈfɪlɪps/

Origin: English; Greek

Meaning: English: son of Philip; Greek: lover of horses

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Phillips is of Greek origin, derived from the name Philippos, which means "lover of horses" (from "philos," meaning "loving," and "hippos," meaning "horse"). The name was borne by several notable figures in ancient history, including Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great, who ruled in the 4th century BCE.

The name made its way into Latin as Philippus, and subsequently into Old French as Philippe, before entering the English language as Phillips, often used as a patronymic surname indicating "son of Philip." Historically, the name Phillips has been associated with various saints, most notably Saint Philip, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus, who is mentioned in the New Testament. The name gained further prominence during the Middle Ages, particularly in England, where it was adopted by various noble families.

The use of Phillips as a surname became more common in the 13th century, often linked to the personal name Philip, which was popularized by the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The name appears in various historical documents, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded in different forms.

Culturally, the name Phillips has resonated through its associations with nobility and religious figures, contributing to its endurance over centuries. It has been linked to themes of leadership and valor, reflecting the characteristics attributed to its most famous bearers.

Additionally, the name has seen various diminutive forms, such as Phil, which have been used informally throughout history. The legacy of the name Phillips continues to be reflected in literature and historical texts, underscoring its significance in both religious and secular contexts.

Famous people named Phillips

In this section, you will find notable people named Phillips. 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 Phillips who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Phillips 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.

Phillips Brooks was a clergyman best known for writing the hymn O Little Town of Bethlehem.

Phillips Oppenheim was a novelist best known for The Kingdom of the Blind, The Betrayal, and The Last Hope.

Phillips Idowu is an athlete best known for competing in the triple jump and winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics.

Phillips Teador is a musician best known for his work with the band The Phillips Brothers.

Phillips H. McGowan was a businessman best known for founding the McGowan Group, a prominent investment firm.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Phillips, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

PhilipPhilPhippsPhelanPhipPhilo

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Phillips. 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.

PhillipPhineasPhelixParkerPerryPaxtonPrycePaxPhoenix

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Phillips was first seen in the United States in 1904.

Phillips has ranked as high as #2802 nationally, which occurred in 1949, and has been most popular in Massachusetts.

In the past 5 years the name Phillips has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Phillips 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 Phillips 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 Phillips.

Year Total Births Boy
2023 7 7
2021 5 5
2019 8 8
2018 7 7
2015 5 5
2010 5 5
2005 5 5
2003 14 14
2002 5 5
2001 12 12
2000 7 7
1999 6 6
1998 8 8
1997 10 10
1996 9 9
1995 7 7
1994 8 8
1993 13 13
1992 10 10
1991 16 16
1990 18 18
1989 15 15
1988 11 11
1987 12 12
1986 13 13
1985 17 17
1984 9 9
1983 16 16
1982 14 14
1981 10 10
1980 7 7
1978 15 15
1977 14 14
1976 7 7
1975 7 7
1974 6 6
1973 11 11
1972 10 10
1971 7 7
1970 12 12
1969 10 10
1968 9 9
1967 8 8
1966 11 11
1965 9 9
1964 19 19
1963 14 14
1962 13 13
1961 19 19
1960 14 14
1959 15 15
1958 10 10
1957 15 15
1956 20 20
1955 18 18
1954 13 13
1953 15 15
1952 15 15
1951 17 17
1950 19 19
1949 32 32
1948 17 17
1947 15 15
1946 18 18
1945 18 18
1944 14 14
1943 16 16
1942 7 7
1941 23 23
1940 16 16
1939 13 13
1938 17 17
1937 20 20
1936 16 16
1935 14 14
1934 21 21
1933 14 14
1932 19 19
1931 19 19
1930 23 23
1929 16 16
1928 21 21
1927 17 17
1926 15 15
1925 17 17
1924 23 23
1923 22 22
1922 16 16
1921 14 14
1920 12 12
1919 21 21
1918 18 18
1917 18 18
1916 16 16
1915 13 13
1914 12 12
1913 7 7
1912 7 7
1909 8 8
1904 5 5

Top States for Phillips (1917)

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
MA 5
100%