Baby Names US
boys' name ★ peaked 2017

Philo

Gender Boy Rank 2025 #11,663
Rank 2025
#11,663
among boys · ↓3,491 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
6
named Philo
How common
1 in 284,679
boys born in 2025
Peak year
2017
13 babies
All-time total
390
#9,161 all-time among boys
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Philo popularity over time

390 babies have been named Philo since 1880, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1881Boys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Boys Per year Change Best rank
1880s 15 2 – #974
1890s – – – –
1900s – – – –
1910s 55 6 – #2,663
1920s 70 7 +27% #2,936
1930s 55 6 -21% #2,265
1940s 21 2 -62% #2,694
1950s 24 2 +14% #3,287
1960s – – – –
1970s 5 1 – #6,078
1980s – – – –
1990s – – – –
2000s 11 1 – #10,525
2010s 81 8 +636% #6,579
2020s (to 2025) 53 9 +9% #7,623

The story of Philo

Philo is rare for boys in the United States, ranked #11,663 in 2025 with 6 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 390 American babies have been named Philo. Its peak came in 2017, when 13 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 2010s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Philo stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Philo?

The median living Philo is about 9 years old; half are between 5 and 22. An estimated 200 people named Philo are alive in the United States today.

median 9 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Philo year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Boys Boys rank
2025 6 #11,663
2024 10 #8,172
2023 11 #7,623
2022 9 #8,816
2021 9 #8,665
2020 8 #9,338
2019 10 #8,061
2018 13 #6,613
2017 13 #6,579
2016 11 #7,484
2015 6 #11,735
2014 9 #8,621
2013 8 #9,441
2012 – –
2011 5 #13,814
2010 6 #11,823
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 5 #12,859
2004 – –
2003 6 #10,525
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 – –
1975 5 #6,078
1970 – –
1965 – –
1960 – –
1955 6 #3,788
1950 – –
1945 – –
1940 5 #3,821
1935 9 #2,671
1930 10 #2,743
1925 9 #3,089
1920 7 #3,744
1915 9 #2,772
1910 – –
1905 – –
1900 – –
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 5 #1,029

Famous people named Philo

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Philo Farnsworth Philo Farnsworth American inventor (1906–1971) Contemporary
  2. 2 Philo Philo Jewish philosopher (c. 20 BCE – c. 50 CE) -15–45 · Antiquity
  3. 3 Philo of Byzantium 3rd-century BCE Greek engineer, physicist and writer -280–-220 · Antiquity
  4. 4 Philo of Byblos Greek author (c. 64 – 141) Antiquity
  5. 5 Philo of Larissa Ancient Greek philosopher -145–-79 · Antiquity

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Philo, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Philo?

The median living Philo is about 9 years old. Half of all living Philos are between 5 and 22 years old.

How many people named Philo are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Philo are alive in the United States, based on 390 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Philo in 2025?

Philo ranked #11,663 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 6 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Philo?

390 babies have been named Philo in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Philo most popular?

Philo peaked in 2017, when 13 newborns received the name.

Is Philo a boy or girl name?

Philo is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Philo rising or falling?

Philo is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Philo?

Well-known people named Philo include Philo Farnsworth (inventor), Philo (philosopher), Philo of Byzantium (engineer).

Names like Philo

Names that sound and feel close to Philo: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Philo with similar names → More names starting with P →