Philippa

Traditionally understood as “lover of horses,” from the Greek name-family behind Philip.

Philippa is a classic feminine name with Greek roots, widely used in later European traditions. It’s often encountered in English-language contexts as a formal full name that naturally supports familiar nicknames, which is part of why it has remained in use across generations. From an etymology standpoint, Philippa is the feminine form of Philip/Philipp, tied to the Greek name *Philippos*. Many references analyze that Greek form as *philo-* “loving” plus *hippos* “horse,” which is why “lover of horses” is the traditional gloss you’ll most often see. As with many ancient-derived names, that meaning is usually presented as an origin note rather than a literal description of the person. Pronunciation in English is typically fi-LIP-uh. A practical tip is to decide whether you prefer a short, crisp middle syllable (LIP) or a slightly fuller one; either way, nicknames like Pippa are common, and the name is generally easy for people to shorten naturally if you invite it.

Etymology: Feminine form of Philip/Philipp, from Greek *Philippos* (commonly analyzed as *philo-* “loving” + *hippos* “horse”).