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.
"The name Phyllis experienced its peak popularity between the years of 1915 to 1924, with a significant increase from 35 births in 1915 to a peak of 73 births in 1924. After this period, the number of births steadily declined, reaching single digits by the late 1960s and early 1970s, with only 7 births recorded each year from 1972 to 1974. The total number of births for the name Phyllis over this period is 3342."