Names Starting with ph

Phaedra f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Φαίδρα (Phaidra), derived from φαιδρός (phaidros) meaning "bright". Phaedra was the daughter of Minos and the wife of Theseus in Greek mythology. Aphrodite caused her to fall in love with her stepson Hippolytos, and after she was rejected by him she killed herself.

Phaedrus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φαῖδρος (Phaidros), which meant "bright". This was the name of a 5th-century BC Greek philosopher, and also of a 1st-century Roman fabulist who was originally a slave from Thrace.

Phaenna f Greek Mythology
Derived from Greek φαεινός (phaeinos) meaning "shining". According to some Greek myths this was the name of one of the three Graces or Χάριτες (Charites).

Phaidra f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Phaedra.

Phaidros m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Phaedrus.

Phanouel m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Penuel.

Phanuel m Biblical, Judeo-Christian-Islamic Legend
Form of Penuel used in the New Testament, where it is borne by the father of Anna the prophetess. It also appears in the apocryphal Book of Enoch belonging to an angel.

Phanuhel m Biblical Latin
Form of Penuel in the Latin New Testament.

Pharaildis f Germanic (Latinized)
Derived from the Old German elements fara "journey" and hilt "battle". This was the name of an 8th-century saint from Ghent, Belgium.

Pharamond m History
Variant of Faramund. This form was used by Shakespeare in his historical play Henry V (1599), referring to the Frankish king.

Phares m Biblical Greek, Biblical Latin, Biblical
Form of Perez used in the Greek and Latin Bibles, as well as some English translations of the New Testament.

Pharez m Biblical
Form of Perez used in some translations of the Bible.

Phebe f English, Biblical
Variant of Phoebe used in some translations of the New Testament.

Phelan m Irish (Rare)
Anglicized form of Faolán.

Phelim m Irish
Anglicized form of Feidhlim.

Phelix m Biblical Greek
Form of Felix used in the Greek New Testament.

Pheme f Greek Mythology
Means "rumour, reputation" in Greek. In Greek mythology she was the personification of fame and rumours.

Phemie f English (Rare)
Diminutive of Euphemia.

Pheobe f English
Variant of Phoebe.

Pherenike f Ancient Greek
Attic Greek form of Berenice.

Pherick m Manx
Manx form of Patrick.

Phestos m Biblical Greek
Form of Festus used in the Greek New Testament.

Phil m English
Short form of Philip and various other names beginning with Phil, often a Greek element meaning "friend, dear, beloved".

Philadelphia f English (Rare)
From the name of a city in Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation in the New Testament. The name of the city meant "brotherly love" from Greek φιλέω (phileo) meaning "to love" and ἀδελφός (adelphos) meaning "brother". It is also the name of a city in the United States.

Philadelphos m Ancient Greek
From Greek φιλέω (phileo) meaning "to love" and ἀδελφός (adelphos) meaning "brother".

Philadelphus m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Philadelphos.

Philander m English (Archaic), Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek name Φίλανδρος (Philandros) meaning "friend of man" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "friend" and ἀνήρ (aner) meaning "man" (genitive ἀνδρός). It was the name of a son of Apollo with the nymph Acalle. In the 18th century this was coined as a word meaning "to womanize", and the name subsequently dropped out of use.

Philandros m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Philander.

Philbert m French (Rare)
Variant of Philibert.

Phile f Ancient Greek
Feminine form of Philon (see Philo).

Philémon m French
French form of Philemon.

Philemon m Biblical, Biblical Latin, Biblical Greek, Ancient Greek
Means "affectionate" in Greek, a derivative of φίλημα (philema) meaning "kiss". Philemon was the recipient of one of Paul's epistles in the New Testament.

Philetos m Biblical Greek
Greek form of Philetus.

Philetus m Biblical, Biblical Latin
From the Greek name Φίλητος (Philetos) meaning "beloved". In the New Testament, Philetus is a heretic in the church at Ephesus denounced by Paul.

Philibert m French, Germanic
Early variant of Filibert altered by association with Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover". A famous bearer was Philibert de l'Orme (1510-1570), a French Renaissance architect.

Philip m English, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Dutch, Biblical
From the Greek name Φίλιππος (Philippos) meaning "friend of horses", composed of the elements φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and ἵππος (hippos) meaning "horse". This was the name of five kings of Macedon, including Philip II the father of Alexander the Great. The name appears in the New Testament belonging to two people who are regarded as saints. First, one of the twelve apostles, and second, an early figure in the Christian church known as Philip the Deacon.... [more]

Philipa f English (Rare)
Feminine form of Philip.

Philipp m German
German form of Philip.

Philippa f English (British), German
Latinate feminine form of Philip. As an English name, it is chiefly British.

Philippe m French
French form of Philip.

Philippina f German (Rare)
Elaborated form of Philippa.

Philippine f French
Elaborated feminine form of Philippe.

Philippos m Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Philip.

Philippus m Biblical Latin, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latin form of Philip.

Philis f English (Rare)
Variant of Phyllis.

Phillida f English (Rare)
Variant of Phyllida.

Phillip m English
Variant of Philip, inspired by the usual spelling of the surname.

Phillipa f English (Rare)
Feminine variant of Philip.

Phillis f English
Variant of Phyllis.

Philo m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From the Greek name Φίλων (Philon), which was derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend". This was the name of a 1st-century Hellenistic Jewish philosopher and theologian from Alexandria.

Philoctetes m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and‎ κτάομαι (ktaomai) meaning "to acquire". In Greek legend this was the name of a hero who was stranded on the island of Lemnos on his way to the Trojan War.

Philokrates m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of power" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and κράτος (kratos) meaning "power".

Philoktetes m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Philoctetes.

Philomel f Literature
From an English word meaning "nightingale" (ultimately from Philomela). It has been used frequently in poetry to denote the bird.

Philomela f Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomele), derived from φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and μῆλον (melon) meaning "fruit". The second element has also been interpreted as Greek μέλος (melos) meaning "song". In Greek myth Philomela was the sister-in-law of Tereus, who raped her and cut out her tongue. Prokne avenged her sister by killing her son by Tereus, after which Tereus attempted to kill Philomela. However, the gods intervened and transformed her into a nightingale.

Philomele f Greek Mythology
Greek form of Philomela.

Philomena f English, German, Ancient Greek (Latinized)
From Greek Φιλουμένη (Philoumene) meaning "to be loved", an inflection of φιλέω (phileo) meaning "to love". This was the name of an obscure early saint and martyr. The name came to public attention in 1802 after a tomb seemingly marked with the name Filumena was found in Rome, supposedly belonging to another martyr named Philomena. This may have in fact been a representation of the Greek word φιλουμένη, not a name.

Philomène f French
French form of Philomena.

Philon m Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek form of Philo.

Philophrosyne f Greek Mythology
Means "friendliness, kindliness" in Greek, a derivative of φίλος (philos) meaning "friend, lover" and φρήν (phren) meaning "mind, heart". In Greek mythology this was the name of the personification of welcome and friendliness.

Philotheos m Ancient Greek
Means "friend of god" from Greek φίλος (philos) meaning "lover, friend" and θεός (theos) meaning "god".

Philoumene f Ancient Greek
Original Greek form of Philomena.

Phineas m Biblical
Variant of Phinehas used in some English versions of the Old Testament.

Phinees m Biblical Greek
Form of Phinehas used in the Greek Old Testament.

Phinehas m Biblical
Probably means "Nubian" from the Egyptian name Panhsj, though some believe it means "serpent's mouth" in Hebrew. In the Old Testament Phinehas is a grandson of Aaron who kills an Israelite because he is intimate with a Midianite woman, thus stopping a plague sent by God. Also in the Bible this is the son of Eli, killed in battle with the Philistines.

Phineus m Greek Mythology
Meaning uncertain, possibly from Greek φίνις (phinis), a variant of φήνη (phene) meaning "vulture". According to Greek mythology this was the name of a king of Thrace visited by Jason and the Argonauts.

Phirun m Khmer
Khmer form of Varuna.

Phobos m Greek Mythology
Means "fear, panic" in Greek. This was one of the sons of Ares in Greek mythology. Also, one of the moons of Mars bears this name.

Phocas m Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φωκᾶς (Phokas), which meant "seal (animal)" from Greek φώκη (phoke). This was the name of an early saint and martyr from Asia Minor. Sentenced to death for being a Christian, he is said to have given his killers lodging and then dug his own grave before he was executed.

Phoebe f English, Greek Mythology (Latinized), Biblical, Biblical Latin
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοίβη (Phoibe), which meant "bright, pure" from Greek φοῖβος (phoibos). In Greek mythology Phoibe was a Titan associated with the moon. This was also an epithet of her granddaughter, the moon goddess Artemis. The name appears in Paul's epistle to the Romans in the New Testament, where it belongs to a female minister in the church at Cenchreae.... [more]

Phoebus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
Latinized form of the Greek name Φοῖβος (Phoibos), which meant "bright, pure". This was an epithet of the Greek god Apollo.

Phoenix m & f English (Modern)
From the name of a beautiful immortal bird that appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology. After living for several centuries in the Arabian Desert, it would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes, with this cycle repeating every 500 years. The name of the bird was derived from Greek φοῖνιξ (phoinix) meaning "dark red".

Phoibe f Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek, Biblical Greek
Greek form of Phoebe.

Phoibos m Greek Mythology, Ancient Greek
Greek form of Phoebus.

Phokas m Ancient Greek
Greek form of Phocas.

Photina f Ancient Greek (Latinized)
Latinized form of Photine.

Photine f Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning "light" (genitive φωτός (photos)). This is the name traditionally given to the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well (see John 4:7). She is venerated as a saint by the Eastern Church.

Photios m Ancient Greek
Derived from Greek φῶς (phos) meaning "light" (genitive φωτός (photos)).

Phraates m Parthian (Hellenized)
Hellenized form of Frahat (see Farhad).

Phrixos m Greek Mythology
Greek form of Phrixus.

Phrixus m Greek Mythology (Latinized)
From the Greek Φρίξος (Phrixos) meaning "thrilling, causing shivers", derived from φρίξ (phrix) meaning "ripple, shiver". In Greek myth Phrixus was the son of Athamus and Nephele. He was to be sacrificed to Zeus, but he escaped with his sister Helle on the back of the ram with the Golden Fleece.

Phúc m & f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 福 (phúc) meaning "happiness, good fortune, blessing".

Phunihel m Biblical Latin
Form of Penuel used in the Latin Old Testament.

Phuntso m & f Bhutanese
Bhutanese form of Phuntsok.

Phuntsok m & f Tibetan
Means "abundant, excellent" in Tibetan.

Phương f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 方 (phương) meaning "direction, way".

Phượng f Vietnamese
From Sino-Vietnamese 鳳 (phượng) meaning "phoenix". This refers to the mythological creature known as the Chinese phoenix or the Fenghuang.

Phuong f & m Khmer
Means "garland, bouquet (of flowers)" in Khmer.

Phyliss f English
Variant of Phyllis.

Phyllida f English (Rare)
From Φυλλίδος (Phyllidos), the genitive form of Phyllis. This form was used in 17th-century pastoral poetry.

Phyllis f Greek Mythology, English
Means "foliage" in Greek. In Greek mythology this was the name of a woman who killed herself out of love for Demophon and was subsequently transformed into an almond tree. It began to be used as a given name in England in the 16th century, though it was often confused with Felicia.