Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1947

Phyllis

Gender Girl Rank 2025 #12,873

From the masculine Ancient Greek Φύλλις (Phúllis) or from the feminine Φυλλίς (Phullís).

Rank 2025
#12,873
among girls · ↓4,555 vs 2024
Babies in 2025
7
named Phyllis
How common
1 in 229,610
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1947
9,205 babies
All-time total
323,367
#122 all-time among girls
First recorded
1880
in Social Security records

Phyllis popularity over time

323,367 babies have been named Phyllis since 1880, 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
2.557.51018801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
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 153 – 153 15 – #466
1890s 633 – 633 63 +314% #272
1900s 2,023 – 2,023 202 +220% #172
1910s 17,885 39 17,924 1,792 +786% #80
1920s 61,871 139 62,010 6,201 +246% #24
1930s 73,805 260 74,065 7,407 +19% #25
1940s 76,143 240 76,383 7,638 +3% #33
1950s 57,764 118 57,882 5,788 -24% #53
1960s 25,704 68 25,772 2,577 -55% #108
1970s 3,835 7 3,842 384 -85% #341
1980s 1,430 – 1,430 143 -63% #852
1990s 686 – 686 69 -52% #1,720
2000s 295 – 295 30 -57% #3,300
2010s 196 – 196 20 -34% #5,558
2020s (to 2025) 73 – 73 12 -38% #6,027

The story of Phyllis

Phyllis is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #12,873 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.

Since 1880, 323,367 American babies have been named Phyllis. Its peak came in 1947, when 9,205 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 Phyllis stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Phyllis?

The median living Phyllis is about 75 years old; half are between 67 and 82. An estimated 149 thousand people named Phyllis are alive in the United States today.

median 75 020406080100

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

Phyllis 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 7 #12,873 – –
2024 13 #8,318 – –
2023 7 #13,136 – –
2022 15 #7,555 – –
2021 11 #9,403 – –
2020 20 #6,027 – –
2019 15 #7,633 – –
2018 18 #6,723 – –
2017 21 #5,988 – –
2016 21 #6,141 – –
2015 22 #5,987 – –
2014 22 #5,945 – –
2013 19 #6,664 – –
2012 13 #9,005 – –
2011 20 #6,512 – –
2010 25 #5,558 – –
2009 23 #6,047 – –
2008 20 #6,751 – –
2007 24 #5,859 – –
2006 25 #5,509 – –
2005 31 #4,464 – –
2004 26 #5,042 – –
2003 29 #4,503 – –
2002 35 #3,782 – –
2001 42 #3,300 – –
2000 40 #3,389 – –
1995 69 #2,000 – –
1990 85 #1,729 – –
1985 129 #1,124 – –
1980 181 #857 – –
1975 325 #531 – –
1970 767 #341 – –
1965 2,464 #155 7 #3,473
1960 4,435 #108 10 #2,818
1955 5,689 #74 20 #1,774
1950 6,695 #53 11 #2,408
1945 6,530 #40 19 #1,568
1940 7,416 #33 34 #1,151
1935 7,370 #27 31 #1,220
1930 7,770 #28 27 #1,417
1925 6,486 #40 16 #2,062
1920 3,852 #72 – –
1915 2,088 #100 5 #4,266
1910 392 #175 – –
1905 183 #235 – –
1900 124 #297 – –
1895 65 #350 – –
1890 42 #391 – –
1885 11 #689 – –
1880 6 #820 – –

Famous people named Phyllis

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

  1. 1 Phyllis Logan Phyllis Logan Scottish actress (born 1956) Contemporary
  2. 2 Phyllis Diller Phyllis Diller American comedian and actress (1917–2012) Contemporary
  3. 3 Phyllis Schlafly Phyllis Schlafly American activist (1924–2016) Contemporary
  4. 4 Phyllis Smith Phyllis Smith American actress (born 1949) b. 1951 · Contemporary
  5. 5 Phyllis Somerville Phyllis Somerville American actress (1943–2020) Contemporary
  6. 6 Phyllis Thaxter Phyllis Thaxter American actress (1919–2012) Contemporary
  7. 7 Phyllis Francis Phyllis Francis American sprinter (born 1992) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Phyllis?

The median living Phyllis is about 75 years old. Half of all living Phylliss are between 67 and 82 years old.

How many people named Phyllis are alive today?

An estimated 149 thousand people named Phyllis are alive in the United States, based on 323,367 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Phyllis mean?

From the masculine Ancient Greek Φύλλις (Phúllis) or from the feminine Φυλλίς (Phullís).

How popular is the name Phyllis in 2025?

Phyllis ranked #12,873 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Phyllis?

323,367 babies have been named Phyllis in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Phyllis most popular?

Phyllis peaked in 1947, when 9,205 newborns received the name.

Is Phyllis a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Phyllis rising or falling?

Phyllis is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Phyllis?

Well-known people named Phyllis include Phyllis Logan (actor), Phyllis Diller (actor), Phyllis Schlafly (social activist).

Names like Phyllis

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

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