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The sound sort of reminds me of rustling leaves, and it means forest, so...I like that it's a non-gimmicky nature name.

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Words/traits I associate with it: elegant, sweet, understated, refreshing, melancholic, joyful, clever, intuitive, intense, pioneering.

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Also it reminds me of Sylvester Stallone and Sylvester the Cat (a cartoon villain).

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I have mixed feelings about Sylvia Plath, but I do love some of her poems (examples: "The Moon and The Yew Tree" and "Poppies in July")...

This message was edited 9/10/2015, 9:50 AM

Sylvia's a name that I've come to really like lately, but I don't ever see myself using it. However, I'd love it to see it on a little girl one day.

I like it a lot. Much better than Sylvie, which most people on this board seem to prefer.

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Sylvia Plath, though ... not my type and not my style. My son enjoys her work, and I do respect his opinion usually, but I can't follow him on that one.

I really like Sylvia =) I'd love to hear it on a little girl again.

I love Sylvia, though I go back and forth on Sylvia vs Silvia. My great-grandmother was a Silva, which looks so incomplete. Sylvia is so much better. It's light but strong at the same time. I'm surprised Sylvia and Sylvie aren't more popular. They feel like natural successors to Sophia and Sophie.

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Plath...eh. I've read her, and I can appreciate her talent and like some of her poems, but she's so dreary. I can only take her work in (very) small doses. Too much, and I feel bored and irritated.

I really like the name Sylvia I think its really nice, Sylvia Plath is where I first mainly heard the name Sylvia. I do prefer it spelt Silvia as I think its a little different and nicer, also I think the name Sylvana or Silvana is beautiful.

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PNL: http://www.behindthename.com/pnl/151224

So jealous you have a Sylvia namesake!

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I love Sylvia, but love Sylvie a tiny bit more. I like that it looks kind of awkward and unbalanced. Sylvia is also super serious and Sylvie lets loose a little bit more. Anyway, there aren't too too many names with a y in the middle that are as dignified as Sylvia or Sylvie, so either way it gets a big thumbs up from me.

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I've never read Sylvia Plath!

I love Sylvia Plath and Sylvia is my favorite name!

I absolutely love Sylvia! I think it's a gorgeous vintage name with a cool and feisty vibe, and it comes with the added bonus of a great meaning. Plus it reminds me of Sylvia Pankhurst (my favourite Pankhurst). I'm not familiar with Sylvia Plath, although I am aware of her tragic end (not that that puts me off). Sylvia Elsie Nightingale has been on my list for a while, and I just had to have Sylvia as a middle for one of my top 4 names.

I've only read The Bell Jar, which I thought was just ok. As for the name, meh. It sounds a bit like a loud mouth old lady from Brooklyn to me. I prefer Sylvie, but it's become too trendy for me to seriously like it.

I like her work, strongly empathize with her, and love the name.

I'm not familiar with Sylvia Plath, but I love the name Sylvia. I knew a Sylvia in school and I remember telling her how beautiful her name was. My only objection. is that it can feel a little wispy and not strong enough I guess, but I think the nickname of Sylvie would help brighten it. Sylvia nn Sylvie would most likely be on my shortlist if I wasn't trying to avoid V's and W's due to pronunciation issues by South Asians--my SO's ethnicity.

This message was edited 9/6/2015, 8:16 AM

It's nice enough. It doesn't sound as dated as some of the other names that were popular when it was in its prime, and it's definitely got more character than the BTN favorite Sylvie. But it's kind of downbeat all the same.

I adore Sylvia. I've even considered to use it: the combo Anja Sylvia has grown on me, but I would use Sylvia as a first name as well (if only I figured out a perfect middle name). And no, I haven't read Sylvia Plath's work (maybe I should...).

I've never read her work, but I do love her name. It's a bonus it's your grandmother's name
Too. It's very pretty and underused.