Philomena

At a Glance

Meaning

Beloved, the loved one

Origin

Ancient Greek (via Latin)

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

fil-oh-MEE-nahListen

Philomena (fil-oh-MEE-nah) traces back to Ancient Greek by way of Latin, and it carries a clear meaning: beloved, the loved one. You may see it glossed elsewhere as 'lover of strength,' but that reads the ending as the Greek word for strength (menos) — the name actually comes from Philoumene, 'the one who is loved.' It's a bold choice for a girl.

Meaning & Origin of Philomena

Meaning: Beloved, the loved one.

Origin: Ancient Greek (via Latin).

A common claim: Philomena is sometimes glossed as 'lover of strength.' Actually: That misreads the '-mena' ending as the Greek word for strength (menos) — Philomena actually comes from Greek Philoumene, meaning 'the one who is loved.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Philomena

Popularity of Philomena

Philomena hit its peak popularity in 1915, ranking #355 with 284 babies given the name that year. By 2024 it had fallen to #1833, with just 110 babies — a big drop over more than a century of U.S. birth records.

Names Like Philomena

Names with a similar style, era, origin or popularity history.

• Electra
• Leandra
• Lydia
• Pandora
• Adalee
• Adaugo

FAQ

What does the name Philomena mean?

Beloved, the loved one. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Philomena?

Philomena is pronounced fil-oh-MEE-nah (IPA: /fɪləˈmiːnə/).

Is Philomena a popular name right now?

Philomena peaked at #355 in 1915 and is ranked #1833 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Philomena Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Philomena, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.