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Phil Name Meaning & Historical Trends

Phil

Pronunciation: FIL

Meaning Lover of horses Gender Boy
BOYS RANK
#8,078
TREND
3,858
Peak Years
1959, 1947, 1961
Lowest Years
2024, 2010, 2011
Energy Archetype
Intellectual & Expressive

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 boys named Phil in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Phil

  • More than 20 thousand babies named Phil: U.S. records list 20,108 babies given the name Phil from 1880 through 2025. Even 72 girls received the name Phil - about 1 girl for every 278 boys.

What Does the Name Phil Mean?

Phil is an English short form of Philip, a name of ancient Greek origin whose established meaning is 'lover of horses' or 'horse-loving.' Philip comes from Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), a compound of philos (φίλος), meaning 'loving' or 'dear,' and hippos (ἵππος), meaning 'horse.' Phil is a clipped form of the English name Philip and has no separate etymology; it carries the Greek derivation of the fuller name.

Phil Name History & Origins

Philip was a personal name in ancient Macedonia. Philip II, who ruled in the fourth century BC and was the father of Alexander the Great, is the best-known early bearer. The New Testament includes Philip the Apostle and Philip the Evangelist, two separate figures; the name has a long association with Christian tradition. From Greek it passed into Latin as Philippus and then into European languages, including French Philippe, Spanish Felipe, Italian Filippo, and German Philipp. In English, Philip was used in the Middle Ages. The short form Phil is an English reduction of that full name: it drops the unstressed second syllable of Philip and keeps the initial stressed syllable. It is used as a familiar nickname and, in modern English, as a given name in its own right.

How Popular is the Name Phil?

Phil recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 1959. Its best rank was #261 in 1947.

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.

Famous People Named Phil

Phil Donahue
Phil Donahue
Phil Hartman
Phil Hartman
Phil Longo Avatar

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How the Name Phil Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.

You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.

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