Phyllis
Phyllis is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “Green bough or foliage.” From the Greek 'phyllon' meaning leaf or foliage.
how do you pronounce Phyllis?
FIL-is
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Phyllis mean?
The name Phyllis means “Green bough or foliage.” It comes from the Greek language tradition.
From the Greek 'phyllon' meaning leaf or foliage. In Greek mythology Phyllis was a Thracian princess transformed into an almond tree. It was highly popular in mid-20th century America and is now considered a vintage name ripe for revival.
where does the name Phyllis come from?
Wikipedia confirms Phyllis, also spelled Phillis, is a feminine given name of Greek origin meaning foliage, matching the existing gloss; Wiktionary independently traces it to a Greek root, noting both a masculine and a feminine ancient form. Wikipedia adds that Phyllis was a minor figure in Greek mythology who killed herself in despair when Demophon of Athens failed to return to her, and was transformed into an almond tree by the gods, though the source doesn't specifically call her a Thracian princess, so that detail given elsewhere isn't confirmed here.
the history of Phyllis
Nothing in the retrieved sources addresses its mid-20th-century American popularity or its current vintage status, so neither claim given elsewhere is confirmed here.
what are the nicknames and variants of Phyllis?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Phyllis?
- Phyllis Diller
- Phyllis McGinley
what names are similar to Phyllis?
what names go well with Phyllis?
Sibling names that share Phyllis's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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