Philip

Philip is a masculine given name of Greek origin. It derives from the Greek name Philippos, from philos “loving” or “friend” and hippos “horse,” traditionally interpreted as “lover of horses” or “friend of horses.” The name appears in classical Greece and spread through Europe in the Middle Ages with the spread of Christianity.

Across languages, there are many forms: French Philippe; Spanish and Portuguese Felipe and Filipe; Italian Filippo; German Philipp; Dutch Filip; Polish Filip; Russian Filipp; and various Scandinavian forms. In English, it is commonly spelled Philip, with variants such as Phillip or Phil.

Notable historical bearers include Philip II of Macedon (c. 382–336 BCE), the father of Alexander the Great, who united the Greek world and laid the foundations for Hellenistic culture. In early Christian tradition, Philip the Apostle is venerated. In royal history, Philip II of France (Philip II Augustus) and Philip II of Spain were influential rulers. In modern times, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (1921–2021), husband of Queen Elizabeth II, popularized the name in the 20th century.

Notable contemporary figures include authors Philip Roth and Philip Pullman, and the composer Philip Glass. In fiction, Philip Marlowe is the hardboiled detective created by Raymond Chandler. Today the name remains common across the English-speaking world and beyond, with many spelling variants and diminutives such as Phil or Pip.