Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1949

Phillis

Meaning A less common spelling of Phyllis Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists

A less common spelling of Phyllis.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Phillis
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1949
118 babies
All-time total
3,683
#3,154 all-time among girls
First recorded
1882
in Social Security records

Phillis popularity over time

3,683 babies have been named Phillis since 1882, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.020.040.060.0818801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s 6 – 6 1 – #882
1890s 62 – 62 6 +933% #1,089
1900s 57 – 57 6 -8% #1,293
1910s 200 – 200 20 +251% #1,054
1920s 429 6 435 44 +118% #1,061
1930s 468 – 468 47 +8% #937
1940s 771 – 771 77 +65% #801
1950s 825 – 825 83 +7% #912
1960s 601 – 601 60 -27% #1,114
1970s 168 – 168 17 -72% #2,608
1980s 69 – 69 7 -59% #6,105
1990s 13 – 13 1 -81% #10,206
2000s 8 – 8 1 -38% #11,523
2010s – – – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – – – –

The story of Phillis

Phillis is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1882, 3,683 American babies have been named Phillis. Its peak came in 1949, when 118 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Phillis stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Phillis?

The median living Phillis is about 69 years old; half are between 62 and 77. An estimated 2,100 people named Phillis are alive in the United States today.

median 69 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Phillis year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 – – – –
2022 – – – –
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 – – – –
2016 – – – –
2015 – – – –
2014 – – – –
2013 – – – –
2012 – – – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 – – – –
2005 – – – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 – – – –
2001 – – – –
2000 8 #11,523 – –
1995 – – – –
1990 – – – –
1985 6 #10,274 – –
1980 8 #7,925 – –
1975 18 #3,729 – –
1970 27 #2,685 – –
1965 70 #1,300 – –
1960 95 #1,114 – –
1955 70 #1,205 – –
1950 94 #922 – –
1945 57 #1,029 – –
1940 49 #1,033 – –
1935 45 #1,037 – –
1930 54 #1,010 – –
1925 42 #1,207 – –
1920 39 #1,243 – –
1915 9 #3,083 – –
1910 8 #1,900 – –
1905 – – – –
1900 7 #1,697 – –
1895 10 #1,109 – –
1890 5 #1,490 – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Phillis

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Phillis Wheatley Phillis Wheatley American writer (c. 1753–1784) 18th century

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Phillis, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Phillis?

The median living Phillis is about 69 years old. Half of all living Philliss are between 62 and 77 years old.

How many people named Phillis are alive today?

An estimated 2,100 people named Phillis are alive in the United States, based on 3,683 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Phillis mean?

A less common spelling of Phyllis.

How popular is the name Phillis in 2025?

Phillis did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Phillis?

3,683 babies have been named Phillis in the United States since 1882, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Phillis most popular?

Phillis peaked in 1949, when 118 newborns received the name.

Is Phillis a boy or girl name?

Phillis is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Phillis rising or falling?

Phillis has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Phillis?

Well-known people named Phillis include Phillis Wheatley (writer).

Names like Phillis

Names that sound and feel close to Phillis: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Phillis with similar names → More names starting with P →