A 1930s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Sylvia since 1880
Babies named Sylvia per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,109 |
| 1890s | 3,025 |
| 1900s | 5,559 |
| 1910s | 25,655 |
| 1920s | 26,841 |
| 1930s | 33,011 |
| 1940s | 37,288 |
| 1950s | 39,540 |
| 1960s | 28,621 |
| 1970s | 12,614 |
| 1980s | 9,323 |
| 1990s | 6,390 |
| 2000s | 5,440 |
| 2010s | 6,046 |
| 2020s | 4,608 |
Meaning & origin
Sylvia is a classic Latin name meaning 'from the forest.' It peaked in popularity in the U.S. in 1937, when it ranked among the top names for girls. After a long decline, Sylvia has been rising again since 2004, and in 2025 it ranked 300th, with about 1 in 1,580 newborns receiving the name. The name has seen particular favor in states like Rhode Island, Minnesota, and West Virginia. Its revival is part of a broader trend toward nature-inspired and vintage names.
Sylvia derives from the Latin word 'silva,' meaning 'forest' or 'woods.' In Roman mythology, Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus. The name has been used in English-speaking countries since the 17th century and gained popularity in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Where Sylvia is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Sylvia” around the world
Where Sylvia lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
10
babies in 2024
New Zealand
15
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sylvie, Syl, Via
Variants: Silvia
Sibling names for Sylvia
Names that share Sylvia's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Violet, Irene, Cecilia, Audrey, Florence, Dorothy, Frances, Marjorie, Adelia, Althea, Lavina, Loraine, Loretta, Maud, Seneca, Verena, Anglia, Daphane, Luellen, Myria, Shelvia, Suann, Valrie, Arelia, Biviana, Cynthea, Faun, Lydian, Seretha, Subrina, Sylena, Alveria, Symia, Syrita
Brothers: Arthur, Walter, Clarence, Edgar, Raymond, Vincent, Lyndon, Florian, Romello, Tytus, Irven, Lucan, Renwick, Sabian, Severin, Sylvio, Joeangel, Rawlin, Burel, Theodus, Aerion, Bravlio, Lenardo, Silvan
Names like Sylvia
Names whose popularity has moved with Sylvia's over the last 50 years.
