Given name & surname
Filomena
“a friend of strength”
Filomena is a form of Philomena. One English interpretation is “a friend of strength.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Italian use, Filomena carries the interpretation “a friend of strength.” Filomena is a form of Philomena. One English interpretation is “a friend of strength.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Italian.
How it developed
Filomena is used as a form of Philomena.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1885. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Filomena is a form of Philomena. The history of Philomena gives this family its wider story. Philomena was in use during the 19th century.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Filomena through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 5,550
- 0 boys · 5,550 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 207 babies
- 2025
- 31
- #4,485 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +32%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 31 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,485 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 32.0% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 207 in 1923. In 2025, New York had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 5,479 as a first name in 2020; 150 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Filomena’s family of names
Filomena is a form of Philomena. In Polish usage, Filomena has a conventional equivalent in the German form Philomena. In Dutch usage, Filomena has a related form in Philomena.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Filomena has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Italian roots to each of them.
6 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 13
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 4
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Filomena
- PhilomenaChristian saint, martyr and wonderworker291–304
- Filomena CautelaPortuguese television presenter and actressborn 1984
- Filomena Mascarenhas TipoteBissau-Guinean politicianborn 1969
- Filomena EmbalóAngolan-born Bissau-Guinean writerborn 1956
- Filomena TassiCanadian politician and lawyerborn 1962
- Filomena Valenzuela GoyenecheaChilean vivandière (1848-1924)
- Filomena CostaPortuguese athleteborn 1985
- Filomena MorettiItalian musicianborn 1973
- Filomena Delli CastelliItalian politician (1916–2010)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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