Philippa

Philippa is the feminine form of Philip, a Greek name combining the ideas of love and horses. Its meaning is usually expressed as lover of horses. The double p in the middle distinguishes this spelling from Philipa, while Pippa and Pip offer familiar shorter forms that keep its distinctive sound.

History gives Philippa a royal connection through Philippa of Hainault, the wife of Edward III of England. The name also appears in literature through novelist Philippa Gregory. These associations make its background broader than its animal meaning alone. Parents can choose the full historical form and still have a brief everyday nickname, with the same Greek name family linking the two.