Total births
390
Boys' name · since 1880
Philo
Since 1880, U.S. Social Security records show 390 babies named Philo, peaking in 2017. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #7773
- among boys today
- 390
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 46%
- more common than other boys
Yes -- Philo is the #7773 most popular boys' name in the U.S. today, with 390 recorded since 1880.
Social Security Administration records show Philo recorded 390 times among boys since 1880, holding rank #7773 nationally today, ahead of 46% of boys, peaking in the 2010s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1880 to 2025.
- #7773 among boys today
- 390 born since 1880
- 2010s peak decade
- 46% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Philo is currently the #7773 boys' name in America, more common than 46% of boys - 390 born since 1880, peaking in the 2010s.
- #7773
- among boys today
- 390
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
- 46%
- more common than other boys
Philo vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#7773
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 46% of names given to boys today.
2010s
Peak decade
21% of everyone ever named Philo was born in this single decade.
2017
Single peak year
13 babies were named Philo in 2017 - its busiest year on record.
How Philo compares
390 Top 49% higher than 51% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Philo's all-time total is 6% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Philo | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 390 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 13 | 23 | 22,252 |
Philo's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Philo's SSA record in two at 1938 and the more recent half accounts for 52% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 48%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1880, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 2017 peak of 13, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Philo at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
2017
Current rank
#7,773
Active since
1880
Philo popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1880–2025
- Peak year (2017)
- 13
- Annual births at peak, across 146 years of records
Philo by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
2010s was Philo's strongest decade.
81 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 21% of all-time use.
Philo births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 15
1880s
15 births
- 1910s
1910s
55 births
- 1920s
1920s
70 births
- 1930s
1930s
55 births
- 1940s 21
1940s
21 births
- 1950s 24
1950s
24 births
- 1970s 5
1970s
5 births
- 2000s 11
2000s
11 births
- 2010s
2010s
81 births
- 2020s
2020s
53 births
What this shows Peak: 2010s at 81 births (21% of all-time use).
Philo by state
Where Philo concentrates geographically, total births since 1880
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 6 | 1.5% |
| #2 | Michigan | | 5 | 1.3% |
California share of Philo's total US births 1.5%
Even split
6 of 390 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Philo? ▼
Since 1880, Social Security records show 390 babies named Philo. Today it holds rank #7773 among boys. Its busiest year on record was 2017, with 13 births.
When was Philo most popular? ▼
Philo was most popular in the 2010s decade with 81 total births. The single peak year was 2017.
Where is Philo most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Philo are California (6 births), Michigan (5 births).
How long has the name Philo been used? ▼
Philo has been recorded in Social Security data since 1880, spanning 146 years of data through 2025.
What names are similar to Philo? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Philip, Phillip, Phil, Philippe, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Philo's data
- Philo's usage has stayed within range of its 2010s decade-level peak (81 total births) through the 2020s (53) -- a comparatively stable name, not a fading trend.
- California records the most Philos (6 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Philo
Nearby Names Like Philo
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Philo
Philip Boy
#520 344,036 births
Phillip Boy
#626 311,561 births
Phil Boy
#10942 20,036 births
Philippe Boy
#7296 3,043 births
Phineas Boy
#1541 2,803 births
Compare Philo side by side: Philo vs Philip Philo vs Phillip Philo vs Phil
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Philo
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1880–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Philo: #7773 Boys' Name - 390 Births, Peak 2017." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/philo. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Philo draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.