The name Flip, typically a nickname for Philip, was a one-hit wonder in the U.S. baby name data in 1960:
- 1962: unlisted
- 1961: unlisted
- 1960: 5 baby boys named Flip [debut]
- 1959: unlisted
- 1958: unlisted
Where did it come from?
I think the primary influence was child actor Flip Mark (born Philip Mark Goldberg), who played Brook Hooten on the short-lived sitcom Guestward, Ho! (1960-1961). He was also able to nudge the name of his character, Brook, into the boys’ top 1,000 for the first time in 1961.
But there could have been a secondary influence: Frank “Flip” Flippen, from the even shorter-lived series Overland Trail (1960). The character was played by actor Doug McClure (who later played Trampas on The Virginian).
Do you like Flip as a standalone name, or do you prefer it as a nickname?