Holding steady.
Popularity of Felis since 1913
Babies named Felis per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1948, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Felis's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 | 10 |
| 1920s | 26 | 17 |
| 1930s | 6 | 5 |
| 1940s | 5 | 15 |
| 1950s | 0 | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 | 10 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
| 1990s | 0 | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Felis is an exceptionally rare name with no clear historical or linguistic roots. It first appeared in U.S. records in 1913, with only a handful of recorded uses in the past century. The name has never reached a rank of 1000 or higher, and it remains below the threshold for a reliable estimate of 1-in-N frequency. Its peak year was also 1913, the same year it first appeared, indicating very limited early adoption. The trajectory has been stable, with occasional stray births rather than a sustained pattern. The name does not cluster in any particular geographic region. Given its obscurity, Felis likely represents an isolated coinage, perhaps inspired by the Latin word for cat or as a variant of the more common Felix.
The name Felis is rare and of uncertain derivation. It may be a direct borrowing of the Latin genus name for cats, Felis, or an elaborated form of Felix, the Latin word for 'happy' or 'lucky'. Its early 20th-century usage in the United States was sparse and has remained extremely low. There is no established history of use in any particular culture.
Sibling names for Felis
Names that share Felis's style, for a brother or sister.
