Felis
Felis is a genus of small and medium-sized cat species native to most of Africa and south of 60° latitude in Europe and Asia to Indochina. The genus includes the domestic cat. The smallest of the seven Felis species is the black-footed cat with a head and body length from 38 to 42 cm. The largest is the jungle cat with a head and body length from 62 to 76 cm.
Meaning & Origin of Felis
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Felis is a genus of small and medium-sized cat species native to most of Africa and south of 60° latitude in Europe and Asia to Indochina. The genus includes the domestic cat. The smallest of the seven Felis species is the black-footed cat with a head and body length from 38 to 42 cm. The largest is the jungle cat with a head and body length from 62 to 76 cm.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of Felis
As a girl name
Felis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 1915, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1926, when 9 Feliss were born — ranking #3,269 that year. As of 2026, Felis ranks #4,691 for girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 42 Feliss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Felis first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1913, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1948, when 9 Feliss were born — ranking #2,608 that year. As of 2026, Felis ranks #6,237 for boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 62 Feliss have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1910s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Felis
Phonetically similar names — useful when Felis is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Felis
What does the name Felis mean?
How popular is Felis in 2026?
When was Felis most popular?
In which U.S. states is Felis most popular?
Is Felis a unisex name?
What names go well with Felis?
About the name Felis
Felis is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1913 and has accumulated 62 births in the dataset. Felis's peak popularity came in 1948 when it ranked #2,608. Use the chart and map above to compare Felis's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1948 →
- Names of the 1940s →
- Names starting with "F" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.