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.
- #9,169 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #10,714 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 390
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
Yes -- Philo is the #10714 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 #10714 nationally today, ahead of 23% 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.
- #9,169 of 45,481 all-time among boys
- #10,714 of 13,930 2025 SSA year
- 390 born since 1880
- 2010s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Philo ranks #9,169 of 45,481 boys' names by all-time recorded births (highest first) and #10,714 of 13,930 among boys' names in 2025. 390 born since 1880, peaking in the 2010s.
- #9,169 of 45,481
- all-time among boys
- #10,714 of 13,930
- 2025 SSA year
- 390
- born since 1880
- 2010s
- peak decade
Philo's 390 recorded births place it above 79.83% of the 45,481 boys names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 2 jurisdictions, led by California.
How Philo compares
390 Top 49% higher than 51% of 13,930 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 (Takari) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 390 | 369 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 13 | 34 | 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 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
2010s is the heaviest window (81 births, 21% of the file).
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% |
6 of 390 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 2 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Philo? ▼
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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
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
Compare Philo side by side: Philo vs Philip Philo vs Phillip Philo vs Phil
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Philo
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Philo: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~2017)
Similar record span (~145 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 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).
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 August 2026.