Philip
Boy name · #527 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Philip? In official American birth records, Philip has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 568 baby boys were named Philip, placing it at #527 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #432, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 3,169 boys born in 2025 was named Philip.
Babies named Philip per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Philip first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 186 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1953, when 6,279 boys were named Philip — good for #61 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Philip against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Philip in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Philip is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Philip will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Philip is most common
Geography matters for names, and Philip is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Philip is most common in LA (0.7 per 1,000), IN (0.7 per 1,000), MA (0.6 per 1,000), OH (0.6 per 1,000), NY (0.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.4 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Philip is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Philip
Statistically, parents drawn to Philip tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Phillip, Allen, Stephen, Johnny, and Danny.
PhillipAllenStephenJohnnyDannyLawrenceDennisSteven
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Philip | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 568 | #527 |
| 2024 | 588 | #520 |
| 2023 | 605 | #499 |
| 2022 | 619 | #491 |
| 2021 | 675 | #451 |
| 2020 | 658 | #453 |
| 2019 | 696 | #439 |
| 2018 | 693 | #436 |
| 2017 | 729 | #426 |
| 2016 | 712 | #435 |
| 2015 | 708 | #432 |
| 2014 | 799 | #389 |
| 2013 | 769 | #387 |
| 2012 | 715 | #408 |
| 2011 | 696 | #406 |
| 2010 | 699 | #403 |
| 2009 | 765 | #393 |
| 2008 | 817 | #377 |
| 2007 | 881 | #358 |
| 2006 | 909 | #341 |
| 2005 | 993 | #325 |
| 2004 | 1,019 | #307 |
| 2003 | 1,075 | #289 |
| 2002 | 1,201 | #263 |
| 2001 | 1,221 | #267 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Philip?
In official American birth records, the name Philip first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 186 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Philip a popular boy name?
Philip ranked #527 among boys in 2025 with 568 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #432.
When was the name Philip most popular?
Philip peaked in 1953, when 6,279 American boys received the name (ranked #61 that year). Since 1953 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Philip?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 3,169 newborn American boys was named Philip. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.