Philip is a distinctive choice, ranked #549 in 2025. Your child is likely to be the only Philip in their class.
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UK Rank 2025
#549
US Rank #528
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About the Name Philip
Philip has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 102 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #103 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996.
Philip is uncommon in the UK, so your child is very likely to be the only Philip in their class.
In the US it sits at #521 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
⭐ Famous People Named Philip
Philip Glenister — Philip Haywood Glenister is an English actor.
Philip II of Spain — Philip II, sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (Spanish: Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598.
Philip the Handsome — Philip the Handsome, also called Philip the Fair, was ruler of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1482, including the counties of Artois, Burgundy and Charolais from 1493, and the first king of Castile from the House of Habsburg in 1506.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Philip
Unlikely. With around 71 UK babies named Philip per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Philip in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Philip is declining: down 190 places since 2020, to #549 in 2025. It peaked at #103 in 1996.
Philip is more popular in the UK (#461) than in the US (#521). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Philip include: Philip Glenister, Philip V of Spain and Philip IV of Spain. Short summaries for each appear below.
Philip ranks #521 in the US top 1,000 (2024). It's recognised in America but considerably more popular in the UK.
71
UK babies named Philip (2025)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 190 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Philip
Almost certainly the only Philip in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Philip
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Philip II, sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (Spanish: Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598.
Philip the Handsome, also called Philip the Fair, was ruler of the Habsburg Netherlands from 1482, including the counties of Artois, Burgundy and Charolais from 1493, and the first king of Castile from the House of Habsburg in 1506.
Philip IV (Spanish: Felipe Domingo Victor de la Cruz de Austria y Austria, Portuguese: Filipe III; 8 April 1605 – 17 September 1665), also called the Planet King (Spanish: Rey Planeta), was King of Spain from 1621 to his death and (as Philip III) King of Portugal from 1621 to 1640.
Sir Philip William Burne-Jones, 2nd Baronet was a Victorian Era British aristocrat, whose life and professional career as a painter spanned into the Edwardian.