When was Philip most popular?

The name Philip reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.

What are the origins of the name Philip Howard?

The name Philip Howard combines two different traditions: the first name Philip has Greek roots, while the surname Howard originates from Germanic.

Philip Howard — 296K & 265K bearers

Philip Howard is a name combining Greek origins, bringing together "horse lover" (Philip) with "high guardian" (Howard). The first name Philip is a masculine given name of Greek origin. From the Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "horse-lover." Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great. The surname Howard: Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward. Philip is a well-known first name, carried by approximately 296K people globally, with the highest concentration in United States. The name Philip reached peak popularity in the 1970s, reflecting the naming trends of that era.

Etymology & Origin

First Name: Philip

Meaning: horse lover

Greek

From the Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "horse-lover." Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great.

Surname: Howard

Meaning: high guardian

Germanic

Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.

Geographic Distribution

The first name Philip is distributed across the globe, with the highest concentrations in the following countries:

United States 51%

United Kingdom 22%

Australia 10%

Greece 8%

Canada 10%

Popularity Over Time

Popularity of the name Philip by decade, based on birth registration data:

1900s

1910s

1920s

1930s

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Notable People Named Philip Howard

People listed above share this name. Listed for informational purposes only. Source: Wikipedia.

Numerology

According to Pythagorean numerology, each letter in a name carries a numerical value. Here are the key numbers for Philip Howard:

4

Expression Number

Stability and hard work. Represents practicality, reliability and dedication — someone who builds solid foundations.

7

Soul Urge Number

Wisdom and introspection. A deep, analytical mind drawn to philosophy, spirituality and the search for truth.

6

Personality Number

Nurturing and responsibility. Associated with care, family values and a strong sense of duty towards loved ones.

Numerology is a cultural tradition for exploring symbolism in names. Results are for entertainment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the origin of the first name Philip?: The first name Philip originates from Greek. From the Greek Philippos (Φίλιππος), meaning "horse-lover." Philip II of Macedon was the father of Alexander the Great.
When was Philip most popular?: The name Philip reached its peak popularity during the 1970s.
What is the origin of the surname Howard?: The surname Howard originates from Germanic. Howard is a common English surname. There are multiple possible origins of the name. The dominant theory pertains to the French personal names Huard and Houard adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German *Hugihard "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate Anglo-Scandinavian personal name Haward from Hávarðr, which means ha(r) "high" (or hǫð "battle") and element varðr, meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward.
What are the origins of the name Philip Howard?: The name Philip Howard combines two different traditions: the first name Philip has Greek roots, while the surname Howard originates from Germanic.