A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Philomena since 1880
Babies named Philomena per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1922, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Philomena's real moment was 1915.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 140 |
| 1890s | 296 |
| 1900s | 613 |
| 1910s | 2,071 |
| 1920s | 2,711 |
| 1930s | 1,070 |
| 1940s | 547 |
| 1950s | 534 |
| 1960s | 239 |
| 1970s | 115 |
| 1980s | 72 |
| 1990s | 122 |
| 2000s | 218 |
| 2010s | 665 |
| 2020s | 538 |
Meaning & origin
Philomena is a name with ancient Greek roots that has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century. It hit its peak popularity in the U.S. in 1915, during the 1910s decade, and after a long decline it has been rising again since 1985. In 2025, the name ranked 1911th and occurred in about 1 in every 15,914 births. The name's revival is reflected in its appearances on birth records in Ohio, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, suggesting a renewed appreciation for its lyrical sound and saintly associations.
Philomena is a name of Greek origin, derived from the elements 'philos' meaning 'friend, lover' and either 'menia' meaning 'strength' or 'mene' meaning 'moon'. It first appeared in Western Europe as the saint Philomena, though her historicity is doubted. The name gained popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries, especially among Catholic families, and saw a revival from the 1980s onward.
Where Philomena is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Philomena” around the world
Where Philomena lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Sources: CSO Ireland (Ireland).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Philo, Mena, Mina
Sibling names for Philomena
Names that share Philomena's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Cecilia, Felicity, Theodora, Rosemary, Matilda, Herminia, Dorathea, Eufemia, Eulalie, Lenetta, Lovenia, Lysandra, Odilia, Teretha, Zenovia, Apolonia, Eusebia, Eustolia, Levenia, Parthenia, Theodosia, Basilia, Berenis, Evadna, Minola, Princetta, Syvilla, Timothea
Brothers: Augustus, Ignatius, Sebastian, Theodore, Maximilian, Aloysius, Isidore, Josephus, Theophilus, Alpheus, Alfonzia, Corydon, Philander, Theophil, Theopolis, Demetrias, Philopater, Aloysuis, Macarius
