Feminine form of Philip, from Greek Philippos meaning lover of horses.
Philippa is the feminine form of Philip, which derives from the Greek Philippos — a compound of philos (loving) and hippos (horse), yielding the vivid meaning "lover of horses." The horse was among the most prestigious possessions in the ancient Mediterranean world, and the name originally signaled aristocratic status and martial prowess. Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, was its most famous early bearer, and his son's conquests spread the name across the Hellenistic world from Greece to the borders of India.
Among women, the name's most celebrated historical bearer is Philippa of Hainault, Queen of England as wife of Edward III, who reigned from 1328 to 1369. She was renowned for her intercession on behalf of the Burghers of Calais — a story immortalized in sculpture and story — and for her patronage of the chronicler Jean Froissart, whose accounts of the Hundred Years' War remain a foundational historical source. Chaucer served in her household, and she is credited with importing continental literary culture to the English court.
In contemporary literature, Philippa Gregory brought the name fresh attention through her immensely popular historical fiction series. Philippa has always maintained a distinctly British character — it is far more common in the UK than in North America — lending it an air of understated aristocratic confidence. The natural nickname Pippa, which gained global visibility through Pippa Middleton, adds a warmth and modernity to the formal version. Parents who choose Philippa typically want a name that is classically grounded and formally impressive while holding a playful diminutive in reserve — a name that grows gracefully from childhood into adulthood.