Philippa

Once upon a time, two saints were martyred in the year 220. One of them was St. Philippa.

Philippa is the English feminization of classic Philip derived from the Ancient Greek "philippos", meaning "lover of horses." Despite the name's meaning, the many Philippas over the years did not study horses. Instead, the name has been worn by saints, royals, and famous women with other occupations. 

The early St. Philippa was one saintly namesake, along with three Blessed Philippas. However, it took a queen, not a saint, to increase the name's English-speaking usage. In the fourteenth century, Philippa of Hainault married King Edward III and became Queen of England. Afterward, more English royals and nobility adopted the name. 

Philippa may have a long history, but it wasn't initially used as full. As with many feminized names, it was only written in records. Girls with the name answered to Philip. 

Philippa entered use as a full name in the eighteenth century. It briefly ranked among the English top 200 names in 1840 and 1850. However, Philippa was not used at all before 1910 in the United States. Perhaps it never even made the top 1000 even though usage has increased over time. 

Philippa was mostly used in England throughout its long history. However, because of its several saintly and royal associations, it's not hard to argue Philippa's classic status. It fits in with feminizations of male names such as Josephine and Victoria. The name also has several international variants, such as Greek and Italian Filippa and German Philippina. Modern associations such as Philippa "Pippa" Middleton remind us that the name is still in use as well. 

NICKNAMES:

Pippi

STYLES:

English, Formal

SISTERS:

Augusta, Genevieve, Theodora, Emmeline, Ottilie, Beatrice, Rosamond, Minerva 

BROTHERS:

Nigel, Benedict, Percival, Edmund, Horatio, Rupert, Ivor, Thaddeus

ALTERNATIVES:

Frederica, Ottoline, Parthenia, Perdita, Petronilla, Petula, Phyllida, Thomasina

FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Philippa." Names, Behind the Name, 25 Apr. 2021, https://www.behindthename.com/name/philippa. 

Nickerson, Eleanor. "Philippa." Names of the Week, British Baby Names, 20 May. 2012, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/2012/05/philippa.html. 

What do you think about Philippa?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Names Inspired by Ivy

Image
Ivy was one of the nature names that emerged during the Victorian Era. It ranked in the 200s in America and was a top 100 pick in England before its decline. Over the past decade, Ivy became a "j-shaped" revival, meaning it came back more popular than ever before; it entered the top 100 in 2018. Parents could be seeking Ivy as an alternative to Ava, another name that is both vintage and modern. However, Ivy has several differences. Even though the nature name is completely feminine, it feels more tailored than girly. Despite ending in the "ee" sound, Ivy sounds more confident than cute (the poison ivy and Ivy League associations could be factors). For those who find Ivy too popular, are looking for sister names, or just love the name, here are some similar names below the top 100: Aster A flower name that also possibly means "star," Aster is rising as a tailored girls' choice even though it is also rising, to a lesser extent, for boys.  Avis This short...
Read more

Disney Boys' Names

Image
What do Pinocchio, Mickey, and Peter have in common? They belong to characters in Disney animated shorts and movies.  However, as with girls' names, Disney boys' names aren't necessarily those from the movies. Instead, they reflect the values of Walt Disney; vintage names with built-in dreams that are neither childish nor heavy. These names sound child-friendly but appropriate for adults. Here are some boys' names infused with Disney values that will especially appeal to Disney fans: Arthur Arthur "Wart" is the protagonist who draws out the sword and becomes king in  The Sword in the Stone . Disney Legend Art Babbitt injects the name with more dreams. Nickname "Art" and the aardvark of children's literature and television fame add on a friendly vibe.   Calvin Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes comics might bring up childhood memories. On the accomplished side, there's Protestant reformer John Calvin (1509-1564) and former President Calvin...
Read more