Peter I recall reading about the name somewhere but cannot find it now. It is possibly related to the Philadelphian Society, a Protestant Society founded in the 17th century by John Pordage in Berkshire. But I seem to recall it is related to a family in Sussex. If you search Christening records (in Ancestry for instance) you will find the name is particularly prevalent in the County - more than 50% of Philadelphia christenings were in Sussex. The name was used from late 17th to the 19th centuries. The origin of the name is allegedly from the name of a city in Asia Minor mentioned in Revelation in the New Testament. The name of the city meant "brotherly love". Cheers Jon Baker Does anybody have any idea why the name 'Philadelphia' was such a popular womans name in the 1800s ?