“Phillips” usually refers to a name derived from Philip , and it literally means “son of Philip” or, more broadly, “descendant of Philip.”

Basic meaning

  • “Phillips” is a patronymic surname, created by taking the male given name “Philip” and adding an “s,” which historically signals “son of.”
  • The name “Philip” comes from the Greek “Philippos,” formed from “philein” (to love) and “hippos” (horse), so it carries the idea of “lover of horses” or “friend of horses.”
  • Put together, “Phillips” can be understood as “son of the horse‑lover” or “son of Philip,” with that older Greek meaning in the background.

How it’s used today

  • Most often, “Phillips” is an English surname, especially common in Wales, England, and the United States.
  • It can also be used as a first name in modern usage, mainly in the US, but this is relatively uncommon compared with its use as a last name.

In short, if you see “Phillips” as someone’s name, it basically means “Philip’s family/descendant,” with the older Greek sense of “friend of horses” behind it.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.