Phil

♂ Boy

Pronounced FIL /ˈfɪl/High

Meaning: A short form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos + hippos). A friendly, familiar nickname-name.Low

In 30 seconds: A friendly short form: Phil trims Philip, 'lover of horses' (said 'FIL'). Warm and classic.

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Origin MediumGreek

MeaningA short form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses' (philos + hippos). A friendly, familiar nickname-name.

U.S. rank (2025)#8078 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births10 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year1959

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,036

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Phil is a short form of Philip, from the Greek Philippos, 'lover of horses.' A warm, familiar nickname-name, used on its own. Rare as a formal given name (said 'FIL').

It appears rarely as a standalone given name in the U.S. Rare formally, friendly, and classic.

Did you know? Phil is the everyday short form of Philip, from the Greek 'lover of horses' — familiar and approachable (said 'FIL').

Overall data confidence 52%

References — Phil — Short form of Philip; Greek 'lover of horses'

Variations

PhillPhilipFil

Nicknames

PhillyFlip

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Phil…

Philip— the full form of the same name

Phillip— a like spelling of the source name

Theo— a like friendly short boy's name

Hank— a like warm nickname-name

Explore names like Phil

By themegreek short classic friendly

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Phil mean?

Phil is a short form of Philip, from the Greek for 'lover of horses.'

How do you pronounce Phil?

It's said FIL /ˈfɪl/ — one syllable.

Is Phil a boy or girl name?

Phil is a boy's name.

How popular is Phil?

Phil is rare as a formal given name in the U.S.