English and Hungarian from Latin "happy, lucky" as is the masculine equivalent Felix, [q.v.]. In Scotland, Felicia is found more often than Felicity, the reverse being found in England.

The FreeREG list of Latin names says that Felicia is the Latin representation of Phillis but no other source suggests a connection. Phyllis was a minor character in Greek mythology and was named after the Greek for "foliage" whereas Felicia is the Latin feminine for "happy". This may be a confusion from consideration of the spelling variations Phelicia & Philicia.