Meaning & History
Pilib is the Irish form of the name Philip. It is derived from the Ancient Greek name Φίλιππος (Philippos), which means "friend of horses," composed of the elements philos ("friend, lover") and hippos ("horse").
Etymology and History
The name Philip has ancient royal lineage, being borne by five kings of Macedon, including Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great. It appears in the New Testament as the name of two notable saints: the apostle Philip and Philip the Deacon. Originally more common among Eastern Christians, the name spread to the West during the Middle Ages and was used by six kings of France and five kings of Spain. In Ireland, the name was adopted as Pilib, which follows native Irish phonetic and spelling conventions.
Cultural Significance
Pilib is a traditional Irish given name that has been used for centuries, closely associated with the proliferation of the name Philip through Christian missionary activity in Ireland. While Philip is common across many cultures, Pilib retains a distinctly Irish character. The name is pronounced roughly /ˈpʲɪlʲəbʲ/ in Irish, which differs notably from the English rendition.
- Meaning: “friend of horses”
- Origin: Irish form of Greek Philippos, ultimately from Ancient Greek
- Type: First name
- Usage regions: Ireland
Related Names
Sources: Wiktionary — Pilib