Filippa Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Filippa

Pronunciation: fih-LIP-uh

Meaning Lover of horses Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#13,767
TREND
3,189

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Filippa in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Filippa

  • 153 babies named Filippa: U.S. records list 153 babies given the name Filippa from 1880 through 2025.

What Does the Name Filippa Mean?

Filippa is the feminine form of Filippo, the Italian form of Philip, and derives from the Greek name Philippos, meaning "lover of horses." The Greek name combines philos, "loving" or "dear," with hippos, "horse." The usual translation is "lover of horses," though the elements can also be read as "fond of horses." In English, the corresponding feminine form is Philippa.

Filippa Name History & Origins

The masculine Greek Philippos was borne by several Macedonian kings, most famously Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. The name passed into Latin as Philippus and into Christian Europe through the New Testament and the veneration of Saint Philip the Apostle. As Philip spread, feminine forms were made by adding a feminine ending: Italian developed Filippa from Filippo, while English developed Philippa from Philip. The spellings reflect different language traditions rather than two unrelated names.

The same spelling is also established in Swedish, Norwegian, and Danish, where it serves as a feminine counterpart to Filip. An early Italian bearer was Blessed Filippa Mareri (died 1236), an Italian Franciscan nun.

How Popular is the Name Filippa?

Filippa has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2020. Its best rank was #3,428 in 1920.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

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How the Name Filippa Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You are kind, home-loving, hospitable and friendly. Since you take responsibility well, you are a good organizer of social affairs. Compassion for others is an outstanding trait. You are a great lover and a great flirt – an artist, musician, actor, teacher, nurse. Your character can be contradictory. You are practical, yet idealistic and intuitive; capable of selfless devotion to someone you love, yet look to receive payback. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.

✦ Filippa's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Filippa's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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