Is Philomena a boy, girl, or unisex name?

Philomena is commonly used as a Girl name.

How popular is Philomena?

It’s currently ranked #840 in the U.S. Recent trend: Rising.

How do you pronounce Philomena?

fi-lo-MEE-nah · IPA: /fɪləˈmiːnə/

Philomena Girl

Popularity: #840 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Origin(s)

Pronunciationfi-lo-MEE-nah / fɪləˈmiːnə

Greek; Latin

Meaning

Greek: lover of strength; Latin: beloved

Historical & Cultural Background

Philomena is derived from the Greek name Philomenos, which means 'lover of strength.' The name gained popularity in the early Christian tradition, particularly due to the veneration of Saint Philomena, a young martyr. She is often associated with miracles and healing, which contributed to the name's appeal in various cultures. Philomena has been used in literature and art, symbolizing strength and devotion.

Trend Summary

Philomena has seen a modest resurgence in popularity in recent years, remaining a unique choice.

Variants

Filomena
Philemena

International Variants

Filomena (Italian)
Philomène (French)
Filomène (Portuguese)

Famous people named Philomena

Philomena Cunk is a British television character portrayed by Diane Morgan, known for her satirical documentaries.

Philomena Lee is an Irish woman whose story inspired the film 'Philomena,' highlighting her search for her son.

Philomena Begley is an Irish country music singer, recognized for her contributions to the genre.

Philomena T. O'Neill is an American author known for her works on family and relationships.

Fictional characters named Philomena

Philomena is a character in the animated series 'The Amazing World of Gumball,' known for her quirky personality.

Philomena is a character in the book 'The Secret of Platform 13' by Eva Ibbotson, serving as a magical creature.

Sibling Suggestions

Penelope Felicity Isadora Cassandra Genevieve Mirabelle

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Philomena was first seen in the United States in 1880. Philomena has ranked as high as #602 nationally, which occurred in 1922, and has been most popular in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Philomena has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Philomena (2024)

Year:

State	Births	Share
TX	9	17%
IL	8	15%
TN	7	13%
PA	7	13%
FL	6	11%
NY	6	11%
KS	5	9%
NJ	5	9%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

Year	Births
1880	10
1881	11
1882	10
1883	15
1884	10
1885	14
1886	15
1887	9
1888	24
1889	22
1890	21
1891	16
1892	28
1893	24
1894	25
1895	32
1896	34
1897	36
1898	33
1899	47
1900	38
1901	40
1902	47
1903	66
1904	48
1905	73
1906	58
1907	75
1908	96
1909	72
1910	81
1911	109
1912	139
1913	156
1914	207
1915	284
1916	296
1917	290
1918	265
1919	244
1920	270
1921	294
1922	308
1923	299
1924	291
1925	270
1926	261
1927	267
1928	225
1929	226
1930	178
1931	156
1932	133
1933	114
1934	110
1935	79
1936	76
1937	80
1938	81
1939	63
1940	65
1941	71
1942	67
1943	54
1944	48
1945	33
1946	46
1947	57
1948	57
1949	49
1950	59
1951	53
1952	59
1953	64
1954	56
1955	52
1956	62
1957	39
1958	44
1959	46
1960	43
1961	25
1962	31
1963	21
1964	18
1965	24
1966	23
1967	18
1968	14
1969	22
1970	20
1971	18
1972	6
1973	9
1974	11
1975	12
1976	7
1977	9
1978	15
1979	8
1980	7
1981	7
1982	7
1983	12
1985	8
1986	7
1987	6
1988	9
1989	9
1990	5
1991	12
1992	9
1993	7
1994	8
1995	9
1996	15
1997	15
1998	21
1999	20
2000	17
2001	15
2002	17
2003	18
2004	27
2005	23
2006	25
2007	33
2008	24
2009	19
2010	31
2011	41
2012	41
2013	43
2014	67
2015	78
2016	93
2017	92
2018	87
2019	92
2020	86
2021	77
2022	83
2023	79
2024	110