Philemon

Meaning & origin

Philemon is a name of Greek origin that carries a warm meaning of 'affectionate' or 'kiss.' It has biblical roots as the recipient of Paul's letter in the New Testament, which historically gave it resonance among early Christian communities and later Puritan families. Despite this heritage, the name has never been common. In the United States, it first appeared in records in 1916 but remained extremely rare. Its peak usage occurred in 2017, when it ranked 7,679, meaning only about 1 in 170,808 boys received the name that year. Since then, its trajectory has been falling, indicating that even its modest popularity is waning. Philemon has not been recorded in any top states, reflecting its scattered use. The name stands as a distinct and historically layered choice for parents seeking a rarely heard name with deep meaning.

From the Greek name Φιλήμων (Philemon), derived from φίλημα (philema) meaning 'kiss'. In Greek mythology, Philemon was a poor old man who hosted the gods Zeus and Hermes in disguise, and was rewarded with a house that turned into a temple. The name appears in the New Testament as a recipient of one of Paul's epistles, giving it a biblical presence. It saw sporadic use among Puritans in the 17th century but has remained rare in modern times.