Phyllis

The first name Phyllis is female and means 'the leaf'. Its origins lie in the ancient Greek word phýllon, which stands for 'leaf, petal, foliage'.

What does the name Phyllis mean?

Phyllis is a female first name that means 'the leaf'. It has its roots in the ancient Greek word phýllon, which translates to 'leaf, petal, foliage'. The name is anchored in Greek mythology, where Phyllis appears as the daughter of a king who died from grief over the disappearance of her beloved. She was transformed into an almond tree, which suddenly began to bloom when her beloved embraced it. Today, Phyllis is primarily a common girl's name in English-speaking regions. Variants of the name include Philis, Phillis, Phyllida, Phylis, and Phyliss. The names Filis (Spanish) and Filiz (Turkish) are also associated with Phyllis.

Where does the name Phyllis come from?

The name Phyllis has Greek roots and means 'the leaf'. It is derived from the ancient Greek word phýllon, which means 'leaf, petal, foliage'. The relevant languages are English and Greek.

How do you pronounce Phyllis?

The pronunciation of Phyllis is clear and two-syllable. It is pronounced as 'Phy-llis' [ˈfʏlɪs] or [ˈfɪlɪs] and begins with a bright, slightly tense vowel. The double consonant '-ll-' enhances the middle of the name and gives it substance. The final 's' provides a clear, hissing finish. Phyllis conveys an impression of conciseness and independence – a name that impresses with cool elegance, clear structure, and modern sharpness in sound.

Popularity

In Germany, Phyllis is a rare first name. In 2023, it ranked 5,633rd on the list of the most common female first names. The name achieved its best ranking in 2005 at 882nd place. Over the past ten years, Phyllis has been given as a first name about 50 times, which places it at 3,664th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 3,225th.

Nicknames & pet names

Filli / Fips / Flips / Lis / Phy / Phyl / Phylla / Phylli / Phyllipferdchen / Phyllips / Physalis / Pilli / Pylonia / Pülle

Similar first names

Famous people

• John And Phyllis Murphy (Australian architect)
• Phyllis A. Morse (American archaeologist)
• Phyllis Baldino (artist from the USA)
• Phyllis Bramson (American painter)
• Phyllis Chesler (American feminist, author, and professor of psychology and women's studies)
• Phyllis Coates (actress from America)
• Phyllis Covell (tennis player from Great Britain)
• Phyllis Danaher (ballet dancer from Australia)
• Phyllis Davis (American actress)
• Phyllis Diller (American comedian and actress)
• Phyllis Dorothy James (English crime author)
• Phyllis Flora Isley (American actress)
• Phyllis Fox (mathematician from the USA)
• Phyllis Fraser (actress from America)
• Phyllis Gates (writer from America)
• Phyllis Gummer (Canadian composer)
• Phyllis Harding (swimmer)
• Phyllis Heitjan (American singer and songwriter)
• Phyllis Hyman (soul singer)
• Phyllis Jeanne Somerville (American actress)