Philip
/F-IH-L-IH-P/
Lover of horses, the apostle who asked Jesus to show him the Father — Philip was among the first disciples called, a practical man who calculated the cost of feeding five thousand and concluded it was impossible, only to watch Jesus multiply loaves and fishes. His name carries the honest doubt that leads to deeper faith and the love of noble creatures that once defined a gentleman across the ancient world
Get Philip's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Philip:
How well does Philip fit your family?
This page tells you what Philip means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Philip is a Christian boy name of Greek origin, meaning “Lover of horses, the apostle who asked Jesus to show him the Father — Philip was among the first disciples called, a practical man who calculated the cost of feeding five thousand and concluded it was impossible, only to watch Jesus multiply loaves and fishes. His name carries the honest doubt that leads to deeper faith and the love of noble creatures that once defined a gentleman across the ancient world”.
Philip is a boy's name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Lover of horses, the apostle who asked Jesus to show him the Father — Philip was among the first disciples called, a practical man who calculated the cost of feeding five thousand and concluded it was impossible, only to watch Jesus multiply loaves and fishes. His name carries the honest doubt that leads to deeper faith and the love of noble creatures that once defined a gentleman across the ancient world" and belongs to the Love cluster — names for children loved deeply before they arrive.
Common among American, European, Greek, Singaporean families, Philip carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Philip
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Philip lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Philip's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Philip's saint & feast day →What does Philip's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Philip resonates in either tradition.
Philip's destiny number is 7 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Philip's full reading →
Does Philip go with your family's names?
Philip breaks into 5 sounds: /F-IH-L-IH-P/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Philip sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Philip beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Philip — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Philip
If Philip resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in American families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Love cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Philip
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Philip — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Philip
What does the name Philip mean?
Philip means "Lover of horses, the apostle who asked Jesus to show him the Father — Philip was among the first disciples called, a practical man who calculated the cost of feeding five thousand and concluded it was impossible, only to watch Jesus multiply loaves and fishes. His name carries the honest doubt that leads to deeper faith and the love of noble creatures that once defined a gentleman across the ancient world." It is a boy name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Philip a boy or girl name?
Philip is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Philip?
Philip is of Greek origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among American, European, Greek families.
Is Philip a Christian name?
Yes. Philip is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Greek origin.
What does Philip mean in Greek?
Philip originates from Greek, where it means "Lover of horses, the apostle who asked Jesus to show him the Father — Philip was among the first disciples called, a practical man who calculated the cost of feeding five thousand and concluded it was impossible, only to watch Jesus multiply loaves and fishes. His name carries the honest doubt that leads to deeper faith and the love of noble creatures that once defined a gentleman across the ancient world."
What are common nicknames for Philip?
Common short forms of Philip include Phil, Pip.
What is the numerology of Philip?
Philip has a Pythagorean destiny number of 7 — introspection and spiritual wisdom.
See how Philip scores for your family
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