Pippa

English, diminutive of Philippa
"lover of horses"

Pippa Origin and Meaning

The name Pippa is a girl's name of English, Italian origin meaning "lover of horses".

Pippa, a peppy condensation of Philippa that turns it from serious to sprightly, has come into the public eye in a big way via the former Kate Middleton's sister.

Pippa can and is given as a name in its own right, and may also be short for names other than Philippa: Penelope, for instance, or Patricia, or the more out-of-the-box Philippine.

Heard far more in the UK (where it's currently in the Top 200) than the US, Pippa has been used on its own since the nineteenth century, popularized by Robert Browning's dramatic poem, Pippa Passes. A recent book and film was titled The Private Lives of Pippa Lee.

Expectant parents should be warned, however, that the word pippa or pipa has an unsavory slang meaning in several European languages, including Italian, Swedish, Polish, and Greek.

# 316 on Nameberry

Pippa Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Pippa Popularity

Famous People Named Pippa

  • Philippa Charlotte "Pippa" Middletonsister of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
  • Pippa ScottAmerican actress
  • Philippa "Pippa" BennettWarner, English actress
  • Philippa Rachel "Pippa" FunnellEnglish Olympic equestrian
  • Pippa MannEnglish racing driver
  • Philippa Jill "Pippa" Olivier HarrisEnglish film producer
  • Pippa BlackAustralian actress
  • Philippa Ann "Pippa" GuardEnglish actress
  • Pippa NixonEnglish actress
  • Philippa "Pippa" HaywoodEnglish actress
  • Pippa SteelGerman actress
  • Pippa Jody GrandisonAustralian actress
  • Phillipa "Pippa" SooAmerican actress and singer
  • Philippa Frances "Pippa" Bryan (b. 2010)daughter of actress Emily Procter and Paul Bryan
  • Pippa Jean Rollins (b. 2017)daughter of American actress Lindsay Sloane

Pippa in Pop Culture

  • Pippamain character in Robert Browning's "Pippa Passes"
  • "The Private Lives of Pippa Lee" by Rebecca Miller
  • Philippa "Pippa" Saunderscharacter on "Home and Away"
  • Pippa Crossfrom Gemma Doyle trilogy by Libba Bray
  • PippaEve's daughter in the Eve series by Anna Carey
  • Pippa Gillespiecharacter on TV's "Broadchurch"
  • Pippacharacter from book The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
  • Pippa Ridleycharacter in 2004 film "Haven"