The story behind Philomena
From Latin Philomēna, from Ancient Greek Φιλουμένη (Philouménē, literally “beloved”). Name of an alleged early martyr whose remains were discovered in 1802 in Rome. Doublet of Philomene.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˌfɪləˈmiːnə/
Popularity
Philomena ranked #1920 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Philomena
Paraskewa
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek Παρασκευή (Paraskeuḗ).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Parthenia
From Ancient Greek Παρθενια (Parthenia, “virginity”), occurring in Greek mythology.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Pasicompsa
From Ancient Greek πᾶσι (pâsi, “all”, dative plural of πᾶς (pâs)) + Ancient Greek κομψή (kompsḗ, “refined, elegant, nice, pleasant”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Pelagia
From Latin Pelagia. Learned borrowing from Latin Pelagia, from Ancient Greek Πελαγία (Pelagía). Borrowed from Ancient Greek Πελαγία (Pelagía).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Philomela
From Latin Philomela, from Ancient Greek Φιλομήλη (Philomḗlē), from φίλος (phílos, “love”) + μῆλον (mêlon, “apple; fruit; sheep”), but folk-etymologized since at least Ovid's…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Afrodita
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἀφροδίτη (Aphrodítē), usually connected with ἀφρός (aphrós, “sea foam, froth”), but possibly of Semitic origin.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 4 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Philomena
Barbara
* From Latin Barbara, the name of Saint Barbara, feminine form of barbarus, from Ancient Greek βάρβαρος (bárbaros, “strange, foreign”). Doublet of Varvara. * (logic): From the…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bárbara
a female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek], equivalent to English Barbara a female given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek], equivalent to English…
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Barnaba
From Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs), from the Hebrew בּר (bar, “son”) and נָבִיא (naví, “prophet”). Derived from Ancient Greek Βαρναβᾶς (Barnabâs).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Philomena
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abromas
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβραάμ (Abraám), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם. Cognates include German Abraham and Russian Авраам (Avraam).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length