Philip is a Greek name meaning "lover of horses" — from philos (loving) and hippos (horse) — that has been in continuous use since Alexander the Great's father Philip II of Macedon. As a male pet name at rank 2665, it represents the reliable category of classical human names that owners apply to dogs without ceremony, simply because the name feels right for the animal in front of them.
The Human-Name Transfer
Philip at this register in pet naming is almost certainly a human-name transfer: the dog was named after a person the owner loves, after a favorite cultural figure, or simply because Philip was the name that fit. The same pattern shows up with Matthew, Steven, and Ron elsewhere in this tier. There's no irony implied; the name is offered with straightforward affection. The human name Philip has a long, distinguished history in English-speaking naming traditions.
The Etymology Hidden in Plain Sight
"Lover of horses" is an unexpectedly wonderful etymology for a dog name . The horse-love encoded in the Greek roots doesn't transfer to dogs, but the philos root (love, affection) does. On a dog, the name quietly means "lover," which is accurate for most of them. Labrador Retrievers and other enthusiastically affectionate breeds wear the name's warmth naturally.
The Counter-Reading: The Crown Association
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh , Queen Elizabeth II's husband of 73 years, gives the name a specific royal weight that may or may not be intended. Post-The Crown, Philip carries a complex mix of formality and humanity that, on a dog, mostly just reads as dignified.