Phylis is a feminine given name of Greek origin. It means "daughter" in the ancient Greek language. The name Phylis has been used throughout history and has several notable figures associated with it.
The earliest known use of the name Phylis dates back to ancient Greece, where it was used as a female personal name. However, it was not particularly popular during this time period.
In the Middle Ages, the name Phylis began to appear more frequently in Europe. It is believed that the popularity of the name may have been influenced by the spread of Christianity, as many early Christian women were named Phylis.
One famous figure associated with the name Phylis is Saint Phyllis, who was a martyr during the Roman Empire's persecution of Christians. According to legend, Saint Phyllis was tortured and killed for her faith in the 4th century AD. Her feast day is celebrated on March 20th.
Another notable figure with the name Phylis is Phyllis Wheatley, an African-American poet who was born into slavery in the late 18th century. Despite facing numerous obstacles due to her race and gender, Wheatley became a renowned poet and was eventually emancipated from slavery.
Today, Phylis remains a relatively uncommon given name, but it continues to be used throughout the world. While its popularity has never reached the heights of some other names, such as Jennifer or Emily, Phylis nonetheless has a rich history and several notable figures associated with it.
Phyllis was a popular name for newborn girls in the United States during the early to mid-20th century, as indicated by the provided statistics. The name first appeared on the Social Security Administration's list of most popular baby names in 1896 with five births that year. It maintained a relatively low but steady presence over the next decade or so, with six births recorded in 1900 and again in 1908, followed by eight births in 1909.
However, Phyllis gained significant traction in the United States during the early 1910s. Starting with nine births in 1911, the popularity of the name rose sharply to 16 births in 1912 and remained strong throughout the rest of the decade. Between 1915 and 1923, Phyllis ranked among the top 1000 most popular baby names every year, with a peak of 73 births in 1924.
The name's popularity waned slightly during the late 1920s and early 1930s but remained relatively stable throughout the following decades. Phyllis experienced intermittent spikes in popularity, such as 83 births in 1942 and 97 births in 1943 during World War II, followed by another peak of 99 births in 1947.
In total, there were 3,342 recorded births with the name Phyllis in the United States from 1896 to 1985. Although its popularity has since declined and it is no longer among the top baby names today, the historical data suggests that the name Phyllis enjoyed a significant period of prominence during the mid-20th century in the United States.
It's fascinating to observe how trends in naming change over time, with some names gaining popularity while others fall out of favor. The statistics provided offer valuable insight into the evolution of baby-naming culture and demonstrate the enduring appeal of the name Phyllis among American parents during a specific era.