Felipe

About Felipe

Felipe is the Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese form of Philip, meaning “friend of horses.” Its three syllables give it a different rhythm from English Philip. The name has a long royal history and recognizable modern bearers in Spanish public life and Dominican baseball.

Greek roots and international forms

The original Greek Philippos combines philos, meaning “friend” or “lover,” with hippos, meaning “horse.” The name was established in the ancient Greek world before its later Christian and European use.

Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, is a prominent ancient bearer of the older form. The New Testament also includes Philip the apostle and a separate early Christian figure commonly called Philip the Deacon.

Spanish developed Felipe, while Portuguese uses both Filipe and, especially in Brazil, Felipe. French Philippe and Italian Filippo belong to the same family. Felipa is a Spanish feminine counterpart, with Filipa used in Portuguese.

Felipe VI and Spanish history

Felipe VI was proclaimed king of Spain on June 19, 2014, after his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated. The proclamation took place before the Cortes Generales, Spain's parliament, following the constitutional oath.

The regnal number places him within a long succession of Spanish kings named Felipe. It also makes the given name visible in the formal language of contemporary Spanish institutions.

The 2014 accession connects an old royal name with a specific modern constitutional event. Felipe's use in Spanish therefore encompasses both ordinary personal naming and a prominent place in the country's royal history.

Felipe Alou and baseball

Felipe Alou became the first Dominican-born manager in major league baseball when he took charge of the Montreal Expos in 1992. His career linked Dominican baseball with one of Canada's major professional teams.

Across parts of ten seasons as Expos manager, he accumulated 691 wins. The club finished second in 1992, 1993, and 1996, and was in first place in 1994 when the players' strike ended the season.

The unfinished 1994 campaign remains a particularly significant part of the Expos' history. Alou's leadership during that period helped establish his lasting association with the organization.

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame recognized him in 2015. His story gives Felipe a sporting connection extending across the Dominican Republic, Canada, and the wider major leagues.

Pronunciation

Spanish Felipe is approximately feh-LEE-peh, with stress on the middle syllable and three clearly sounded vowels. Brazilian Portuguese commonly gives the final vowel an ee sound, approximately feh-LEE-pee.

Felipinho is an established affectionate form in Brazilian Portuguese. English Phil belongs to the same broader family, but it does not preserve Felipe's usual Spanish rhythm.

American popularity

Felipe's strongest United States ranking for boys was #373 in 1981. Its largest published annual count came in 2001, with 602 births.

The name appeared for 583 boys in 2000 and 423 in 2010. In 2025, 244 boys received it, ranking #955. These records count Felipe separately from Filipe and Philip.

How popular is Felipe?

In 2025, Felipe ranked #955 among boys in the United States, with 244 recorded uses. The U.S. birth records first list this spelling for boys in 1880; its largest annual count was 602 in 2001. Rankings count each spelling separately. They describe national use, so local familiarity can differ. The popularity chart shows whether the name has remained common, returned after a quieter period, or risen recently.