Given name & surname
Phil
“a friend of strength”·“one who loves horses”·“a friend of horses”
In English use, Phil is a short form of Philomena. One English interpretation is “a friend of strength.” Phil is a variant of Phillip. One Greek interpretation is “one who loves horses.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Phil is a short form of Philomena. One English interpretation is “a friend of strength.” Phil is a variant of Phillip. One Greek interpretation is “one who loves horses.” In English use, Phil is a short form of Philippa. In English use, Philippa carries the interpretation “a friend of horses.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Phil is a short form of Philomena. Philomena has been associated with Latin and Greek naming traditions. In English use, Phil is a short form of Philip. An origin associated with Philip is Greek.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English use, Phil is used as a shortened form of Philip.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Phil is a short 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
Phil through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 20,108
- 20,036 boys · 72 girls
- Most popular year
- 1959
- 677 babies
- 2025
- 10
- #8,078 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −39%
- Cooling
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 10 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 8,078 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 38.6% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 677 in 1959. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 26,593 as a first name in 2020; 157 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.
Phil’s family of names
In English usage, Phil is a diminutive of Philip. Phil has a related form in Phillip. Phil is a short form of Philip.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Phil has relatives in 3 languages.
8 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 8
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 2
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 Phil
- Phil FodenEnglish footballer (born 2000)
- Phil JonesEnglish association football player, born 1992
- Phil JagielkaEnglish association football playerborn 1982
- Phil NevilleEnglish association football player and manager (born 1977)
- Phil HillAmerican racing driver (1927–2008)
- Phil JacksonAmerican basketball player, coach and executiveborn 1945
- Phil LaMarrAmerican actorborn 1967
- Phil McGrawAmerican television personality (born 1950)
- Phil HartmanCanadian-American actor, comedian, screenwriter (1948-1998)
Characters named Phil: Phil Coulson (the Marvel Cinematic Universe), Phil Leotardo (The Sopranos).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Phil, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gil
“resembling a young goal” · “the joy of the people”
>99% boys
Flint
“resembling the hard quartz; from the stream”
>99% boys
Darryl
“one who is greatly loved” · “one who is dearly loved”
>99% boys
Fritz
“a peaceful ruler”
>99% boys
Val
“one who is strong and healthy” · “resembling a spring flower”
88% boys · 12% girls
Niels
“the champion” · “of the victorious people”
>99% boys
Bill
“the determined protector” · “will”
>99% boys
Tal
“covered with the morning's dew”
85% boys · 15% girls