Phyllis is a name of Greek origin that means "many-thriving" or "luxuriant." It is derived from the Greek word phullon, which means "leafy growth" or "abundance." The name Phyllis has been used since ancient times and was popularized in English literature by Alexander Pope's poem "The Rape of the Lock," published in 1712. In this work, the main character is named Belinda, who has a friend named Phyllis. Since then, the name has gained popularity in English-speaking countries.
Based on the statistics provided, Phyillis was not a very popular name for babies born in the United States from 1923 to 1966. Over this 44-year period, there were only 70 babies named Phyillis.
The name's popularity fluctuated quite a bit over time. There were years when it appeared just once or twice among baby names, such as in 1923 and from 1959 to 1964. However, there were also periods where the name gained some traction with parents: for instance, from 1956 to 1957 and again in 1965 and 1966 when it had 8 births each year.
Despite these small peaks, Phyillis remained quite rare overall. Out of millions of babies born during this time period, only a tiny fraction were named Phyillis. This rarity could be seen as a unique advantage, as it is likely that not many people would share the same name. However, it's important to remember that choosing a name for a child is a deeply personal decision and there are no right or wrong answers when it comes to picking a name.