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Home › Baby Names Directory › Phyllis

Phyllis

♀ Girl

Pronounced FIL-iss /ˈfɪl.ɪs/High

Meaning: From the Greek phyllis, 'foliage; a green bough/leaf' (in myth, a Thracian princess turned into an almond tree)Low

In 30 seconds: Foliage; a green bough: Phyllis is Greek. Classic, mythic, and warm.
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Origin LowGreek
MeaningFrom the Greek phyllis, 'foliage; a green bough/leaf' (in myth, a Thracian princess turned into an almond tree)
U.S. rank (2024)#8282 ↗ Rising
2024 U.S. births13 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1947
Total births (all-time)≈ 322,490

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 194718802024

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Phyllis comes from the Greek phyllis, 'foliage; a green bough/leaf' (in myth, a Thracian princess turned into an almond tree). A classic, mythic name (said 'FIL-iss').

In the U.S. it peaked mid-century and is now retro. Foliage at the root, and classic.

Did you know? Phyllis means 'foliage; a green bough' in Greek — in myth, a Thracian princess turned into an almond tree — a classic, mythic name (said 'FIL-iss').
Overall data confidence 44%
References — Phyllis — Greek etymology

Variations

PhillisPhylissPhyllida

Nicknames

Phyl

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Phyllis…

Phoebe— a sound-neighbor Greek girls' name
Iris— a fellow plant/nature Greek girls' name
Violet— a companion nature girls' name
Paris— echoes that soft -is sound
Isis— shares the -is ending

Explore names like Phyllis

By themegreekmythologicalretro
By meaningRoyal / Noble

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Phyllis mean?

Phyllis is Greek for 'foliage; a green bough'; in myth, a princess turned into an almond tree.

How do you pronounce Phyllis?

It's said FIL-iss /ˈfɪl.ɪs/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Phyllis a boy or girl name?

Phyllis is a girl's name.

How popular is Phyllis?

Phyllis is a rare name today, retro.

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