Phelps
Phelps is an English surname. The name is originated as a patronymic form of the name Philip. The name Philip is derived from the Greek name Philippos, which is composed of two elements: the first, philein, "to love"; the second, hippos, "horse". The Dictionary of American Family Names states that the surname Phelps is generally found in the south-western part of England.
Meaning & Origin of Phelps
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Phelps is an English surname. The name is originated as a patronymic form of the name Philip. The name Philip is derived from the Greek name Philippos, which is composed of two elements: the first, philein, "to love"; the second, hippos, "horse". The Dictionary of American Family Names states that the surname Phelps is generally found in the south-western part of England.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Phelps
Phelps first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1918, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1929, when 7 Phelpss were born — ranking #3,247 that year. As of 2026, Phelps ranks #12,106 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 59 Phelpss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Phelps
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Abel Mix Phelps (1851–1902), American surgeon
- A. Warren Phelps (1829–1885), American politician
- Almira Hart Lincoln Phelps (1793–1884), American educator, author, editor
- Anson Green Phelps (1781–1853), co-founder of mining company Phelps Dodge
- Amos A. Phelps (1805–1847), abolitionist
- Amos A. Phelps (politician) (1867–?), member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
- Artur Gustav Martin Phleps (1881–1944), was an Austro-Hungarian, Romanian and German army officer
- Aurora Phelps (1839–1876), American land reformer, trade union labor and women's rights advocate
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Phelps
Phonetically similar names — useful when Phelps is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Phelps
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About the name Phelps
Phelps is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1918 and has accumulated 59 births in the dataset. Phelps's peak popularity came in 1929 when it ranked #3,247. Use the chart and map above to compare Phelps's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1929 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.