Last updated: March 2026

Character Name

Philip

Meaning — Philip is a masculine name derived from the Greek Philippos, composed of philein (to love) and hippos (horse) — meaning "lover of horses." It was the name of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, and one of Christ's twelve apostles. The name has been used across all European cultures since antiquity, including in Slavic countries.·Greek origin·Male·FIL-ip

Philip Philip's long history — from Macedonian kings to apostles to literary heroes — gives it a flexible, enduring quality. Characters named Philip are often depicted as strivers: men who see clearly what they want and pursue it with methodical determination, whether their goal is noble or merely ambitious.

Best genres for Philip

Historical FictionLiterary FictionAdventureContemporary Fiction

Famous characters named Philip

Philip Pirrip (Pip)

Great Expectations Charles Dickens

The young orphan narrator whose great expectations of wealth and gentility are built on a mysterious benefactor's charity in Dickens's masterwork of social ambition.


Variations & nicknames

PhilipPhillipFilipPhilippeFilippo

Pairs well with

Philip HarringtonPhilip AshfordPhilip WyndhamPhilip ThorntonPhilip PrescottPhilip Whitmore

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More Greek names

Genesis

From the Greek Genesis, meaning "origin," "beginning," or "creation" — from gignesthai, "to be born" or "to come into being." Genesis is the title of the first book of the Bible, the book of beginnings, from the Hebrew Bereshit ("in the beginning"). As a feminine given name, Genesis has been used in the United States since the late 20th century, particularly in Hispanic-American communities, and carries strong associations with new starts and creative potential.

Lenna

A short form or variant of Helena, Eleanor, or Magdalena — all ultimately from the Greek. Through Helena it connects to the Greek helenos ("bright one") or helios ("sun"); through Eleanor to the Occitan Alienor (possibly from the Arabic or from the Old Provençal ali-aenor, "the other Aenor"); through Magdalena to the place name Magdala, a town on the Sea of Galilee meaning "tower." Lenna may also be a Scandinavian name in its own right, a feminine form of Lenn or a variant of Lena.

Luke

From the Greek Loukas, meaning "man from Lucania" — a region of southern Italy — or possibly derived from the Latin lux ("light"). The name was borne by Saint Luke the Evangelist, author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles, traditionally believed to have been a physician and companion of Saint Paul. It has been in English use since the medieval period.

Kristoffer

The Scandinavian form of Christopher, derived from the Greek Christophoros, meaning "bearer of Christ," from Christos ("anointed one") and phoros ("to bear"). The name gained wide currency through the legend of Saint Christopher, who supposedly carried the Christ child across a river. Kristoffer is the standard spelling in Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.

Lena

Lena is a short form of Helena or Magdalena, ultimately deriving from the Greek "Helene", whose etymology is debated but often connected to "helios" (sun) or "selene" (moon), or to a root meaning "torch" or "bright". As a standalone name it gained popularity across Scandinavia, Germany, and Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries, and is now used independently throughout the world.

Andrew

From the Greek Andreas, derived from aner/andros meaning "man" or "manly." It entered English via the Old French Andreu and Latin Andreas, and owes much of its lasting popularity to Saint Andrew, apostle of Christ and patron saint of Scotland, Russia, and Greece. The name has been in continuous English use since medieval times.


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