Phil Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Phil originates from the Greek name 'Philos', meaning 'loving' or 'fond of'. It has evolved through various forms like 'Philippos' and 'Philip'. The name is associated with positive traits such as friendliness and warmth. There is no significant biblical background. Phil gained popularity during the Middle Ages and remains a common name today.
The name Phil is most popular in Oklahoma, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Silent Generation generation in the West region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Phil has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Phil' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 505th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 331st out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 347th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 706th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1790th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4565th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6678th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 5908th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 7328th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 8600th out of 12526 names. Discover how the name 'Phil' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Phil"
Pronunciation
/fɪl/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Phil is derived from the Greek name 'Philos', which means 'loving' or 'fond of'. It is often used as a short form of names like Philip, which means 'lover of horses'.
Meaning
loving, fond of
Language Evolution
Philos, Philippos, Philip
Historical Usage
The name Phil gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the Middle Ages, particularly due to the influence of the name Philip from the New Testament.
Variants & Derivatives
Philip, Phillip, Pip
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Phil is seen as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and kindness.
Famous People
Phil Collins, Phil Mickelson, Phil Jackson
Explore More Phil Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Phil"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Phil"
"Phil" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 505th of 7545 | 2,330 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 331st of 6773 | 5,241 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 347th of 7552 | 8,817 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 706th of 10718 | 2,166 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1790th of 16616 | 657 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4565th of 24088 | 297 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6678th of 23106 | 148 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 5908th of 9107 | 31 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 7328th of 9204 | 15 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 8600th of 12526 | 26 |
Regional Popularity of "Phil" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
30.58% 433rd/1416 |
34.45% 475th/1379 |
30.05% 711th/2366 |
32.49% 371st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
17.14% 265th/1546 |
24.94% 388th/1556 |
17.42% 410th/2353 |
14.80% 229th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
13.25% 295th/2227 |
18.68% 454th/2430 |
12.44% 355th/2853 |
10.74% 298th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
21.76% 639th/2937 |
26.59% 926th/3483 |
19.73% 694th/3518 |
15.95% 645th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
57.01% 2551st/4475 |
44.36% 2304th/5194 |
27.16% 1716th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
68.67% 5022nd/7313 |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Phil" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Phil"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Phil" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.