Skip to main content

Philippa — Dog Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity

Philippa (fi-LIP-ah), 3 syllables — Means 'lover of horses' in Greek.. Verified by the Pets In The City editorial team, with real popularity data from our Auckland community.

Last updated:

What does Philippa mean?

Greek: Means 'lover of horses' in Greek.. Philippa is derived from the Greek name Philippos, meaning 'lover of horses', and is a traditional feminine name.

Our editors checked this meaning before publishing. Names with several genuine origins are shown as separate senses rather than a single claim.

Is Philippa a good dog name?

Philippa has not been formally rated for calling yet. As a rule of thumb, one or two clear syllables work best for recall. With 3 syllables, it has a longer, more musical sound; many owners use a shorter nickname for recall.

Before you commit, say it out loud a few times and check it does not clash with a household name or a training cue like "sit" or "no".

Philippa popularity in the Pets In The City community

We don't have publishable popularity figures for Philippa in our Auckland community. This does not tell us how common the name is.

Popularity comes from anonymised, aggregated records of dogs at our 5 Auckland centres. It reflects our community, not a national census.

What kind of dog does Philippa suit?

It is most often used for girl dogs in our community. Owners often pick Philippa for its classic, human name feel. Treat these as suggestions — plenty of dogs happily wear names that break every rule.

The Grand Arrival of Philippa

Our entirely unscientific pack opinion.

Did you hear Philippa is joining us? They say with a name like that, she’s destined to win 'Best in Hotel'—and raise the classy factor of our snooze fest!

Names similar to Philippa

  • Abagael — A variant of Abigail, meaning 'my father's joy'.
  • Abagail — A variant of Abigail, meaning 'my father is joy'.
  • Abayomi — Yoruba name meaning 'bringer of joy'.
  • Abbiegail — Variant of Abigail, meaning 'my father's joy'.
  • Abbigail — Means 'my father is joyful' in Hebrew.
  • Abdalla — An Arabic name meaning 'servant of God'.
  • Abdulloh — Variant of Abdullah, meaning 'servant of God'.
  • Abegail — Variant of Abigail, meaning 'my father is joy'.

Collections featuring Philippa

See all curated collections.

Like Philippa? Find names that fit your dog

The Dog Name Matchmaker learns your taste and picks eight names that suit your dog's character — each with a reason it fits.

Naming a new puppy?

A great name is step one. Step two is a great start: our force-free puppy training classes build confidence and recall (that new name gets a workout). New to Pets In The City? Register your dog for a temperament assessment and meet the pack.

By the numbers

  • 3 syllables — nickname-friendly
  • Meaning and pronunciation verified by our editors
  • Data from 5 Auckland Pets In The City centres

Find names like Philippa Browse all names A–Z

Our Services

Our 5 Auckland Locations

About & Help

Pets In The City — Auckland's premier pet care since 2006, with 5 Auckland locations open 7 days. Email hello@petsinthecity.co.nz.