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Home › Baby Names Directory › Philemon

Philemon

♂ Boy

Pronounced FY-luh-mon /ˈfaɪ.lə.mɒn/Medium

Meaning: From the Greek Philemon, 'affectionate; loving' (from philein, 'to love; to kiss') — a New Testament name, borne by the recipient of Paul's shortest letter. Warm and biblical.Medium

In 30 seconds: A warm biblical Greek name: Philemon means 'affectionate; loving' (said 'FY-luh-mon'). Gentle, classic, and rare.
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Origin MediumGreek
MeaningFrom the Greek Philemon, 'affectionate; loving' (from philein, 'to love; to kiss') — a New Testament name, borne by the recipient of Paul's shortest letter. Warm and biblical.
U.S. rank (2024)#10616 ↘ Falling
2024 U.S. births7 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2017
Total births (all-time)≈ 915

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 201719162024

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

Philemon is Greek, 'affectionate; loving' (from philein, 'to love; to kiss'). It reaches modern families through the New Testament epistle addressed to a man of that name. A gentle, classic pick, rare in the U.S. (said 'FY-luh-mon').

It appears only rarely in U.S. records, mostly in devout families. Rare, biblical, and warm.

Did you know? Philemon comes from the Greek for 'affectionate; loving' — the name of the man Paul addressed in the shortest of his New Testament letters, making it a quietly meaningful classic (said 'FY-luh-mon').
Overall data confidence 55%
References — Philemon — Greek 'affectionate; loving'; New Testament name

Variations

PhilimonFilemonPhilemón

Nicknames

PhilMon

Famous Bearers

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If you like Philemon…

Philip— a like Greek phil- name
Silas— a like New Testament pick
Barnabas— a like warm biblical classic
Gideon— a like gentle scriptural name

Explore names like Philemon

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Philemon mean?

Philemon is Greek for 'affectionate; loving' (from philein, 'to love'), a name from the New Testament.

How do you pronounce Philemon?

It's said FY-luh-mon /ˈfaɪ.lə.mɒn/ — three syllables, stress on the first.

Is Philemon a boy or girl name?

Philemon is a boy's name.

How popular is Philemon?

Philemon is a rare name in the U.S.

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