Girl
Sylvia
forest, woods
About Sylvia
Sylvia has experienced a remarkable renaissance, emerging from decades of relative quiet to reclaim its rightful place as a name of subtle sophistication and natural beauty. There is something inherently literary about Sylvia, perhaps because it has graced the pages of countless novels and poetry collections throughout the centuries. The name evokes woodland scenes and quiet contemplation, suggesting a person of depth and intelligence who values both knowledge and introspection. Sylvia manages the rare feat of being simultaneously classic and contemporary, appealing to parents who appreciate vintage charm without wanting something that feels dated. The soft 'v' sound in the middle gives it a gentle quality, while the strong opening syllable provides balance and structure. Sylvia photographs beautifully on paper and sounds lovely when spoken aloud, with a rhythm that makes it satisfying to say. It's a name that ages gracefully, working equally well for a curious toddler, an ambitious teenager, or an accomplished professional.
Popularity of the Name Sylvia
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #162 | ||||
| 1881 | #187 | ||||
| 1882 | #179 | ||||
| 1883 | #192 | ||||
| 1884 | #199 | ||||
| 1885 | #173 | ||||
| 1886 | #167 | ||||
| 1887 | #173 | ||||
| 1888 | #174 | ||||
| 1889 | #178 | ||||
| 1890 | #158 | ||||
| 1891 | #156 | ||||
| 1892 | #149 | ||||
| 1893 | #144 | ||||
| 1894 | #153 | ||||
| 1895 | #157 | ||||
| 1896 | #140 | ||||
| 1897 | #135 | ||||
| 1898 | #133 | ||||
| 1899 | #130 | ||||
| 1900 | #137 | #105 | |||
| 1901 | #129 | #128 | |||
| 1902 | #136 | #104 | |||
| 1903 | #120 | #122 | |||
| 1904 | #119 | #89 | |||
| 1905 | #120 | #111 | |||
| 1906 | #107 | #109 | |||
| 1907 | #109 | #105 | |||
| 1908 | #101 | #106 | |||
| 1909 | #93 | #79 | |||
| 1910 | #92 | #93 | |||
| 1911 | #82 | #71 | |||
| 1912 | #77 | #79 | |||
| 1913 | #72 | #62 | |||
| 1914 | #70 | #69 | |||
| 1915 | #67 | #66 | |||
| 1916 | #69 | #69 | |||
| 1917 | #69 | #77 | |||
| 1918 | #71 | #71 | |||
| 1919 | #77 | #66 | |||
| 1920 | #85 | #54 | |||
| 1921 | #88 | #79 | |||
| 1922 | #94 | #57 | |||
| 1923 | #98 | #59 | |||
| 1924 | #104 | #59 | |||
| 1925 | #106 | #56 | |||
| 1926 | #107 | #71 | |||
| 1927 | #116 | #37 | |||
| 1928 | #119 | #61 | |||
| 1929 | #119 | #51 | |||
| 1930 | #132 | #55 | |||
| 1931 | #123 | #60 | |||
| 1932 | #96 | #59 | |||
| 1933 | #84 | #66 | |||
| 1934 | #70 | #66 | |||
| 1935 | #60 | #67 | |||
| 1936 | #53 | #49 | |||
| 1937 | #50 | #65 | |||
| 1938 | #56 | #73 | |||
| 1939 | #62 | #77 | |||
| 1940 | #62 | #74 | |||
| 1941 | #65 | #92 | |||
| 1942 | #72 | #84 | |||
| 1943 | #77 | #70 | |||
| 1944 | #83 | #84 | |||
| 1945 | #83 | #91 | |||
| 1946 | #82 | #84 | |||
| 1947 | #97 | #97 | |||
| 1948 | #100 | #90 | |||
| 1949 | #94 | #127 | |||
| 1950 | #97 | #150 | |||
| 1951 | #97 | #133 | |||
| 1952 | #99 | #129 | |||
| 1953 | #101 | #144 | |||
| 1954 | #101 | #145 | |||
| 1955 | #107 | #139 | |||
| 1956 | #108 | #161 | |||
| 1957 | #109 | #191 | |||
| 1958 | #114 | #138 | |||
| 1959 | #120 | #186 | |||
| 1960 | #121 | #180 | |||
| 1961 | #124 | #238 | |||
| 1962 | #131 | #197 | |||
| 1963 | #128 | #189 | |||
| 1964 | #137 | #254 | #123 | ||
| 1965 | #131 | #223 | #138 | ||
| 1966 | #146 | #327 | #129 | ||
| 1967 | #156 | #295 | #137 | ||
| 1968 | #164 | #382 | #143 | ||
| 1969 | #178 | #303 | #132 | ||
| 1970 | #189 | #380 | #126 | ||
| 1971 | #194 | #379 | #161 | ||
| 1972 | #194 | #295 | #112 | ||
| 1973 | #193 | #367 | #130 | ||
| 1974 | #189 | #131 | |||
| 1975 | #215 | #363 | #135 | ||
| 1976 | #228 | #151 | |||
| 1977 | #255 | #359 | #146 | ||
| 1978 | #252 | #165 | |||
| 1979 | #247 | #206 | |||
| 1980 | #264 | #200 | |||
| 1981 | #247 | #174 | |||
| 1982 | #254 | #200 | |||
| 1983 | #238 | #354 | #240 | ||
| 1984 | #248 | #381 | #217 | ||
| 1985 | #271 | #362 | #234 | ||
| 1986 | #280 | #396 | #293 | ||
| 1987 | #285 | #287 | #326 | ||
| 1988 | #291 | #278 | |||
| 1989 | #319 | #264 | #350 | ||
| 1990 | #334 | #286 | #266 | ||
| 1991 | #322 | #417 | #281 | #386 | |
| 1992 | #361 | #413 | #395 | ||
| 1993 | #372 | #353 | #412 | #480 | |
| 1994 | #426 | #382 | #371 | #423 | |
| 1995 | #436 | #410 | #295 | #410 | |
| 1996 | #453 | #349 | #467 | #485 | |
| 1997 | #484 | #337 | #493 | #502 | |
| 1998 | #468 | #923 | #612 | #543 | |
| 1999 | #482 | #657 | |||
| 2000 | #497 | #983 | #347 | #459 | #619 |
| 2001 | #517 | #587 | |||
| 2002 | #513 | #985 | #612 | #710 | |
| 2003 | #550 | #640 | #676 | ||
| 2004 | #557 | #427 | #833 | #728 | |
| 2005 | #529 | #789 | |||
| 2006 | #520 | #869 | #324 | #625 | #563 |
| 2007 | #533 | #420 | #615 | #787 | |
| 2008 | #554 | #958 | |||
| 2009 | #550 | #876 | #723 | ||
| 2010 | #557 | #291 | #651 | #693 | |
| 2011 | #551 | #794 | #343 | #681 | #674 |
| 2012 | #526 | #800 | #749 | #778 | |
| 2013 | #507 | #794 | #852 | #627 | |
| 2014 | #490 | #653 | #294 | #841 | #678 |
| 2015 | #484 | #638 | #261 | #771 | |
| 2016 | #502 | #687 | #332 | #647 | #601 |
| 2017 | #483 | #682 | #434 | #787 | |
| 2018 | #492 | #604 | #326 | #462 | #581 |
| 2019 | #511 | #579 | #312 | #846 | |
| 2020 | #502 | #648 | #419 | #677 | |
| 2021 | #467 | #611 | #917 | ||
| 2022 | #439 | #623 | #385 | #705 | |
| 2023 | #427 | #498 | #355 | #812 | #746 |
| 2024 | #361 | #622 | #344 | #556 | |
| 2025 | #300 | #449 | #277 | #608 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Sylvia
Names Similar to Sylvia
Nicknames for Sylvia
- Syl
- Sylvie
- Vie
- Sil
- Silli
Famous People Named Sylvia
| Sylvia Plath | Renowned American poet and author |
| Sylvia Earle | Noted marine biologist and oceanographer |
| Sylvia Rivera | LGBTQ+ rights activist and influential figure in the Stonewall Uprising |
| Sylvia Kristel | Dutch actress best known for her role in the "Emmanuelle" film series |
| Sylvia Sidney | Talented American actress from the Golden Age of Hollywood |
| Sylvia Pankhurst | Prominent suffragette and advocate for women's rights |
| Sylvia Chang | Taiwanese actress, writer, and director |
| Sylvia Likens | Tragically known for her victimization in the infamous "The Girl Next Door" case |
| Sylvia Hoeks | Dutch actress recognized for her role in "Blade Runner 2049" |
| Sylvia Llewelyn Davies | The woman who inspired J.M. Barrie's character Wendy Darling in "Peter Pan" |
Characters Named Sylvia
| Sylvia Trench | James Bond's love interest in the movie "Dr. No" |
| Sylvia Marpole | A character from Roald Dahl's novel "Matilda" |
| Sylvia Rosen | A character from the TV series "Mad Men" |
| Sylvia Fine | Fran Fine's mother in the TV show "The Nanny" |
| Sylvia Weis | A character from the movie "In Time" |
| Sylvia Ganush | An antagonist in the horror film "Drag Me to Hell" |
| Sylvia Loddish | A character from Jane Austen's novel "Sense and Sensibility" |
| Sylvia McFarland | A character from the TV series "One Tree Hill" |
| Sylvia | A character from Shakespeare's play "The Two Gentlemen of Verona" |
| Sylvia St. Croix | A character from the musical "Ruthless!" |