Phyllis is of Greek origin, derived from the word 'phullon', which means 'leaf'. This name was quite popular in the past, especially among Christians, as it was often used to denote a leafy plant such as ivy or laurel, and thus symbolized victory or abundance. It reached its peak popularity during the late 19th century in the United States. Phyllis is typically pronounced as 'FIL-us' with the stress on the first syllable.
"The name Phyllis experienced significant fluctuations in popularity throughout the given period, with a high of 34 births in 1940 and a low of just 5 births in both 1953 and 1963. The peak decade was the 1930s with a total of 278 births, while the 1950s saw a sharp decline to only 134 births."