Phyllis is of Greek origin, derived from the word 'phullon', which means 'leaf'. It is believed to have been brought to England by the Normans and was first used as a given name in the 12th century. The name Phyllis gained popularity during the Victorian era and remained quite common throughout the 20th century, particularly among families of English descent.
"The name Phyllis experienced significant popularity between 1909 and 1957, with the highest number of births recorded in 1950 (68 births). However, it's notable that there was a substantial decline after the mid-1950s, with fewer than 20 births per year from 1967 onwards. The total number of births for the name Phyllis over this period is 2406."