Phylicia

A girl's name of Greek origin with 2,381 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

Phylicia is a three-syllable girl's name with a open, elegant sound — found across Latin, Greek, and Slavic naming traditions. With 2,381 recorded U.S. births since 1968, it sits in a sweet spot: recognizable enough to be a real name, uncommon enough to turn heads.

Phylicia is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.

Phylicia is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a variant of Felicia, from the Latin felix meaning 'happy' or 'lucky.' The name gained wide recognition through actress Phylicia Rashad, best known as Clair Huxtable on The Cosby Show, who brought elegance and warmth to the name throughout the 1980s.

EtymologyShow more

Phylicia is cataloged under the Greek naming tradition. Greek-origin names have traveled through mythology, early Christianity, and scholarly tradition to become fixtures in naming cultures worldwide.

In the U.S., Phylicia has been recorded as a girl's name since 1968, with 2,381 total births. Browse the Greek names hub on this site to explore the broader family.

At a Glance

2,381

Total births

Since 1968

1987

Peak

289 births

1968

First recorded

47 years of data

Compare Phylicia with another name

Popularity Over Time

Phylicia has 36+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1968.

First appeared: 1968Peak: 1987 (289 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Phylicia
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2010s	35	#15181	▼
2000s	159	#7850	▼
1990s	962	#2306	▼
1980s	1,203	#3539	▲
1970s	11	#9500	—
1960s	11	#7551	—

The Story of Phylicia

A Millennial name

Peaking in 1987, Phylicia is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Phylicia are most likely born between 1977 and 1997.

How rare is Phylicia?

With 2,381 total births on record, Phylicia remains a rare and distinctive pick.

The journey through the decades

First appeared in the records in 1968, peaked in the 1980s with 1,203 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Phylicia by the numbers

Would fill 50 school buses
Meeting one Phylicia per day would take 6.5 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(36 years, 1968–2014)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Phylicia
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2014	6	#16071	+1 (20.0%)
2013	5	#18625	-6 (-54.5%)
2012	11	#10260	+4 (57.1%)
2011	7	#14482	+1 (16.7%)
2010	6	#16469	0
2009	6	#16777	-9 (-60.0%)
2007	15	#8427	-2 (-11.8%)
2006	17	#7412	+2 (13.3%)
2005	15	#7814	-2 (-11.8%)
2004	17	#7022	+5 (41.7%)
2003	12	#8933	-11 (-47.8%)
2002	23	#5228	-4 (-14.8%)
2001	27	#4538	0
2000	27	#4498	+2 (8.0%)
1999	25	#4544	-6 (-19.4%)
1998	31	#3807	-4 (-11.4%)
1997	35	#3352	-19 (-35.2%)
1996	54	#2418	-4 (-6.9%)
1995	58	#2305	-16 (-21.6%)
1994	74	#1925	-14 (-15.9%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Phylicia a boy's or girl's name?

Phylicia is primarily a girl's name.

When was Phylicia most popular?

Phylicia reached its peak popularity in 1987 with 289 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Phylicia?

Phylicia is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 2,381 babies in the U.S. since 1968. Its peak was in 1987.

Explore More

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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1968–2014