Phylis
A girl's name of Greek origin with 3,342 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
dative/ablative plural of phȳlum
Phylis is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a variant spelling of Phyllis, from the Greek Phyllis, meaning 'foliage, green leaves' — connected to the natural world. In Greek mythology, Phyllis was transformed into an almond tree after dying of grief while waiting for her beloved.
Phylis was used in the early-to-mid 20th century as a simplified spelling of Phyllis. Like its counterpart, it carries the gentle botanical imagery of green leaves — a name rooted in the living world.
EtymologyShow more
Phylis 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., Phylis has been recorded as a girl's name since 1896, with 3,342 total births. Browse the Greek names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Phylis has 73+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1896.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | #11953 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 60 | #6580 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 345 | #2263 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 641 | #1275 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 857 | #872 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 625 | #888 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 518 | #1078 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 261 | #1469 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 25 | #1921 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 5 | #1765 | — |
The Story of Phylis
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1949, Phylis is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Phylis are most likely born between 1939 and 1959.
How rare is Phylis?
With 3,342 total births on record, Phylis remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1896, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 857 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Phylis by the numbers
- Would fill 70 school buses
- Meeting one Phylis per day would take 9.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(73 years, 1896–1985)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 5 | #11953 |
| 1976 | 6 | #8899 |
| 1975 | 11 | #5409 |
| 1974 | 7 | #7453 |
| 1973 | 7 | #7213 |
| 1972 | 7 | #7067 |
| 1971 | 11 | #5035 |
| 1970 | 11 | #4986 |
| 1969 | 14 | #3922 |
| 1968 | 16 | #3413 |
| 1967 | 26 | #2416 |
| 1966 | 36 | #1944 |
| 1965 | 41 | #1792 |
| 1964 | 33 | #2100 |
| 1963 | 35 | #2005 |
| 1962 | 34 | #2016 |
| 1961 | 52 | #1575 |
| 1960 | 58 | #1451 |
| 1959 | 43 | #1689 |
| 1958 | 64 | #1327 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Phylis a boy's or girl's name?
When was Phylis most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1896–1985