Filippo

Filippo is a masculine given name of Italian origin. It derives from the Greek name Philippos, meaning “lover of horses” or “friend of horses.” The Italian form corresponds to the English Philip and the French Philippe, with the feminine form Filippa. The name has been common in Italy since the Middle Ages and is associated with several saints and notable historical figures.

In Italian culture, Filippo has been borne by artists, architects, scientists, and religious leaders. One of the most prominent saints with the Italian form is San Filippo Neri (Saint Philip Neri, 1515–1595), a Catholic priest and founder of the Oratorian order. The name has figured prominently in Renaissance and Baroque periods as well as in modern times.

Notable people named Filippo include Filippo Brunelleschi (1377–1446), a leading architect and engineer of the Italian Renaissance known for the dome of the Florence Cathedral; Filippo Lippi (c. 1406–1469), a Renaissance painter and the teacher of Filippino Lippi; Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (1876–1944), the writer and founder of the Futurist movement; Filippo Juvarra (1678–1736), a Baroque architect; Filippo Inzaghi (born 1973), a renowned footballer and manager commonly known as Pippo Inzaghi; Filippo Pacini (1812–1883), an anatomist who described the causative agent of cholera; and Filippo Grandi (born 1957), a diplomat who has served as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The name remains in use in contemporary Italy and among Italian communities abroad, maintaining its historical associations with culture, science, and leadership.