Holding steady, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Sylva since 1886
Babies named Sylva per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1919, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sylva's real moment was 1891.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 14 |
| 1890s | 73 |
| 1900s | 95 |
| 1910s | 210 |
| 1920s | 216 |
| 1930s | 136 |
| 1940s | 60 |
| 1950s | 31 |
| 1960s | 26 |
| 1970s | 10 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 5 |
| 2020s | 7 |
Meaning & origin
Sylva is a rare feminine name in the United States, first recorded in 1886. Its peak usage came in 1891, but it has never been common. As of 2025, the name ranked 11,932, with an estimated incidence of 1 in 229,610 births. The name's trajectory has remained stable over the decades, never experiencing a significant revival. Its etymology is uncertain but points to a connection with forests, either through Latin silva or as a variant of Silvia. While not widely used, Sylva carries a gentle, natural quality that may appeal to parents seeking an uncommon name with a botanical or classical echo.
Sylva is a name with debated origins. It may derive from the Latin word silva meaning 'forest', making it a feminine form of Sylvanus or a variant of Silvia. Alternatively, it could be a modern coinage influenced by the English word sylvan. The name has seen occasional use in English-speaking countries since the 19th century.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sylvie, Syl
Sibling names for Sylva
Names that share Sylva's style, for a brother or sister.
