Phylicia as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Phylicia

What is the meaning of the name Phylicia ?

The baby name Phylicia is a girl name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced fə-LEE-shə.

Phylicia is English, Greek, Latin in Origin.

Phylicia is a modern English spelling of Felicia, the Latin feminine of Felix. The earliest secure form is the Roman name Felix, from the adjective felix, genitive felicis, with the literal sense fruitful, fortunate, happy; Felicia uses the feminine ending -a on the stem felic-. The initial Phy- is not inherited from Latin but reflects 20th-century respelling, probably encouraged by Phyllis, Greek Phyllis from phyllon, leaf.

Felicia circulated in Christian Europe through saints’ cults, especially in Catholic and Romance-language settings, and English adopted it from medieval and later continental use. Phylicia appears as an American variant rather than a separate ancient name; it became especially visible after actress Phylicia Rashad, whose public career coincided with the spelling’s brief U.S. chart appearance, including SSA rank 932 in 1991. Cognate and variant forms include Félicie, Felicja, Felicija, Felizia, Felisa, Felisha, Philicia, and Phyllicia.