Felipe
Felipe Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
/fe.ˈli.pe/
Meaning of Felipe: Felipe is the Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese form of Philip, which derives from the ancient Greek name Phílippos, a compound of philís (loving, fond of) and íppos (horse).
The name therefore means lover of horses, a prestige concept in the ancient world where horse ownership signified wealth and military capability.
The name arrived in the Iberian Peninsula through Latin Philippus, the Roman form used throughout the Christian world. In Spanish, Philippus evolved to Felipe through regular phonetic changes: the initial Ph- became F-, and the Latin endings simplified to the Spanish form.
What Does Felipe Mean? Origin & Etymology
The same name in Portuguese produced the variant Filipe.
Felipe is the dominant royal name in Spanish history. 6 kings of Spain bore this name: Felipe I (the Handsome, 1504–1506), Felipe II (who built the Escorial and led the Armada.
1556–1598), Felipe III (1598–1621), Felipe IV (patron of Velázquez, 1621–1665), Felipe V (the first Bourbon king, 1700–1746), and the current Felipe VI, who acceded to the throne in 2014.
The name’s association with Spanish royal authority is unmatched by any other given name in the Iberian tradition. According to SSA records, Felipe ranks in the US top 500 for boys, driven primarily by Hispanic communities.
In Mexico, Spain, Brazil, and across Latin America, it consistently ranks among the top 50 male names. The Spanish short form Pipe and the diminutive Felipito appear in informal use across Spanish-speaking families. Further reading: etymology records and US popularity records from SSA.
Numerology & Symbolism of Felipe
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Felipe – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Felipe
What does the name Felipe mean?
Felipe means lover of horses, from the Greek Philippos, a compound of philos (loving) and hippos (horse). Horses were symbols of wealth and military power in the ancient world, making this a prestigious name. The same meaning is shared by the English Philip, the Portuguese Filipe, the French Philippe, and the Italian Filippo — all regional forms of the same Greek original.
Where does the name Felipe come from?
Felipe is the Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese form of the Greek name Philippos, which entered Spanish through Latin Philippus. The initial Ph- became F- through regular Spanish phonetic evolution. The name was spread across the Iberian Peninsula through Catholic baptismal tradition and royal patronage, becoming one of the most historically significant names in Spanish culture.
Is Felipe popular in the US?
Yes. According to SSA records, Felipe ranks in the top 500 for boys in the US, driven by Hispanic communities. It is significantly more common in states with large Mexican-American and Central American populations: California, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. In Mexico and Spain, Felipe consistently places among the top 50 male names. The current King of Spain, Felipe VI, has maintained the name’s visibility internationally.
How many kings of Spain were named Felipe?
6 kings of Spain bore the name Felipe. The most historically significant was Felipe II (1556–1598), who ruled Spain at the height of its imperial power, commissioned the Escorial palace-monastery, and launched the Spanish Armada against England in 1588. Felipe IV (1621–1665) is known as the patron of the painter Diego Velázquez. The current monarch, Felipe VI, acceded to the throne in June 2014 upon the abdication of his father Juan Carlos I.