Scyllis as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Scyllis

What is the meaning of the name Scyllis ?

The baby name Scyllis is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈsɪlɪs/ (SILL-iss).

Scyllis is Greek in Origin.

Scyllis stems from Ancient Greek Σκύλλις (Skyllis), a rare classical personal name best known from the story of Scyllis/Scyllias of Scione, the renowned diver who, according to Herodotus and Pausanias, sabotaged the Persian fleet during the Greco‑Persian Wars. The form Scyllis reflects a Latinized spelling; it never entered broad Christian naming traditions and remained an antiquarian curiosity, tied to rugged, maritime imagery and feats of endurance.

Its etymology is debated. The base skýll‑ may derive from the verb skýllō “to flay, torment, tear,” or connect with skýlos/skýlla “dog,” the root behind the sea‑monster Scylla and ichthyological terms like Scyllium (dogfish). Thus Scyllis carries connotations of rending force or “sea‑dog” toughness rather than a single fixed gloss. Documented variants include Scyllias, Skyllis, and Scylis, with Scylla as a related feminine name; modern usage is rare and sometimes unisex, occasionally simplified in spelling.

⚙ Scyllis doesn't appear in any of the birth registries or name datasets we track. That usually points to a very rare, regional, or newly coined name. However you look at it, very few people share it.