Phillip
Boy name · #651 in 2025 · Uniqueness 65/100
In 2025, 425 baby boys were named Phillip, placing it at #651 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #408, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 4,235 boys born in 2025 was named Phillip.
Babies named Phillip per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
The 145-year story
Phillip first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 75 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1960, when 6,047 boys were named Phillip — good for #66 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 Phillip against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Phillip in class?
Phillip scores 65 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Phillip is most common
Geography matters for names, and Phillip is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Phillips were CA (38), FL (29), TX (27), VA (18), MI (17). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Phillip
Statistically, parents drawn to Phillip tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Philip, Gregory, Jeffrey, Patrick, and Frankie.
PhilipGregoryJeffreyPatrickFrankieCurtisNelsonPerry
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Phillip | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 425 | #651 |
| 2024 | 453 | #626 |
| 2023 | 455 | #616 |
| 2022 | 514 | #572 |
| 2021 | 559 | #524 |
| 2020 | 553 | #519 |
| 2019 | 569 | #503 |
| 2018 | 666 | #449 |
| 2017 | 727 | #427 |
| 2016 | 707 | #437 |
| 2015 | 762 | #408 |
| 2014 | 798 | #390 |
| 2013 | 870 | #362 |
| 2012 | 884 | #350 |
| 2011 | 779 | #378 |
| 2010 | 864 | #354 |
| 2009 | 927 | #339 |
| 2008 | 1,098 | #304 |
| 2007 | 1,175 | #292 |
| 2006 | 1,220 | #286 |
| 2005 | 1,233 | #268 |
| 2004 | 1,325 | #247 |
| 2003 | 1,455 | #233 |
| 2002 | 1,553 | #226 |
| 2001 | 1,711 | #209 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Phillip a popular boy name?
Phillip ranked #651 among boys in 2025 with 425 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #408.
When was the name Phillip most popular?
Phillip peaked in 1960, when 6,047 American boys received the name (ranked #66 that year). Since 1960 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Phillip?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 4,235 newborn American boys was named Phillip. It scores 65/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.