UK boy's name
Philippe
French masculine given name derived from the Greek meaning "lover of horses".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Philippe is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Philippe popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 8 births.
This profile covers 134 England and Wales registrations across 27 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 38% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 133 living people in the UK are called Philippe. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Philippe ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 8 boys were registered as Philippe.
- • About 133 living people in the UK are estimated to have Philippe as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5119
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
8 births
Estimated living
133
2026
Meaning
What does Philippe mean?
The name Philippe originated from the ancient Greek name Philippos, which is derived from the words philos, meaning "lover of" and hippos, meaning "horse". The name was widely used in ancient Greece and later adopted by the Romans.
Philippe has its roots in the Hellenistic period, around the 4th century BC. It was borne by several notable historical figures, including Philippos II, the king of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great. The name is also mentioned in various ancient Greek texts, such as the works of Aristotle and Plutarch.
During the Middle Ages, the name Philippe gained popularity in Western Europe, particularly in France and the Low Countries. It was the name of several French kings, including Philippe I (1052-1108), Philippe II (1165-1223), and Philippe IV (1268-1314), who played significant roles in shaping the history of medieval France.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Philippe is found in the 6th century, when it was used by Philippe of Zell, a Frankish nobleman and courtier. In the 11th century, Philippe I of France became the first of the Capetian dynasty to bear the name.
Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals named Philippe. Philippe de Vitry (1291-1361) was a influential French composer and music theorist during the medieval period. Philippe de Commines (1447-1511) was a renowned Renaissance historian and author known for his chronicles of the French kings.
Philippe Pinel (1745-1826) was a French physician who pioneered the humane treatment of psychiatric patients and is regarded as a leading figure in the development of modern psychiatry. Philippe Petit (born 1949) is a famous French high-wire artist best known for his daring tightrope walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in 1974.
Philippe Starck (born 1949) is a renowned French designer and architect known for his innovative and unconventional designs, including furniture, household objects, and buildings. These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Philippe.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Philippe over time
The chart below shows babies named Philippe registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Philippe, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Philippe by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Philippe was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4479 | 15 | 4 |
| 2010s | #3778 | 40 | 9 |
| 2000s | #2843 | 52 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1700 | 27 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Philippe
- Patrick 17,559
- Peter 13,150
- Paul 8,542
- Philip 4,997
- Parker 4,664
- Phoenix 3,865
- Preston 3,370
- Prince 1,782
- Patryk 1,763
- Phillip 1,697
- Percy 1,395
- Perry 1,015
FAQ
Philippe: questions and answers
How popular is the name Philippe in the UK right now?
In 2024, Philippe was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Philippe most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 8 babies registered as Philippe in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Philippe?
French masculine given name derived from the Greek meaning "lover of horses".
How many people are called Philippe in the UK?
A total of 134 babies have been registered as Philippe across the 27 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.