Philo
Every Philo since 1880 — 390 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
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.
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
- Philo Philosopher · -15–45
- Philo of Byzantium Engineer · -280–-220
- Philo of Larissa Philosopher · -145–-79
- Philo of Byblos Writer · 64–141
- Philo Farnsworth Inventor · 1906–1971
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
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 (philosopher), Philo of Byzantium (engineer), Philo of Larissa (philosopher).