Declining since 2018, #7,679 for boys today.
Popularity of Philopater since 2006
Babies named Philopater per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 2000s | 19 |
| 2010s | 105 |
| 2020s | 51 |
Meaning & origin
Philopater is an extremely rare given name in the United States, first appearing in the Social Security database in 2006. Its highest rank was in 2019, at which point it reached its peak usage, before entering a gradual decline. As of 2025, it ranks 7,679th and has been falling in popularity since 2018. Approximately 1 in 170,808 male births received the name in the most recent data. The name remains uncommon across all states, with no state standing out as a stronghold. Its Greek roots connect it to ancient virtues of filial love, and it may be encountered in Coptic Christian communities.
Philopater is a Greek compound name from φίλος (philos, 'loving') and πατήρ (pater, 'father'), literally meaning 'lover of the father' or 'father-loving'. It was used in Hellenistic and Byzantine times as an epithet and personal name, often in royal or ecclesiastical contexts to denote filial piety. The name is rare in the modern Western world but has seen some use in Egypt and among Coptic Christians, where it appears in the 21st century U.S. data.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Phil, Pate, Philo
Variants: Philopator
Sibling names for Philopater
Names that share Philopater's style, for a brother or sister.
