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If I was a girl being named today, I'd rather be Sylvia. Delaney is already dated and passé. Very 90s and early 2000s; like naming your daughter Jenna.

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I feel like Sylvia is more classic, a little vintage, which I like.

I like Delaney- it's different but not too out there. Sylvia just seems dated (I like Sylvie though!)

I like both well enough. I kind of prefer Sylvie to Sylvia though. Just recently I cannot get morbid thoughts of Sylvia Plath from my mind when I hear the name despite knowing an adorable 8 year old named Sylvia.

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Delaney is not my style at all but it sounds bubbly and happy and I like the nicknames Del, Della or Laney.

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My vote goes to Delaney

Delaney is both sweet and spunky. There is nothing wrong with Sylvia although I prefer Silva. Delaney strikes me as more charming and energetic while Sylvia seems quieter and cast in the shade.

This message was edited 3/25/2015, 4:24 PM

Sylvia

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Definitely Sylvia, it's classic and will age well.

Hm. Both are great choices, I honestly think you'd do well either way.

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Sylvia is pretty, classy, and a bit old fashioned. Nicknames: Syl, Sylvie, V, Via, Vivi
Delaney is fun and newer but still not flaky. Nicknames: Del, Della, Lane, Laney

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Wow, I really don't know which one I would choose? Maybe Delaney by a hair.

I like both names but Delaney edged Sylvia out just a bit.

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Good luck picking one.

Sylvia is classic, ageless and was never trendy.

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Delaney is a surname. The trend for using surnames as first names is a recent one, and I think it's too soon to say whether it'll last.

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That's as respectful as I get on a Wednesday. You choose!

I feel like Sylvia will age better and work for all facets of life. Delaney, imo, seems to be more childish. I have a hard time picturing it on an adult.
Also, I feel Sylvia is less likely sound trendy and dated when she is older.

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Plus, Sylvie and Vie are super cute nicknames.

Sylvia

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Sylvia is a timeless beauty that ages well with a person. Plus it has a variety of cute nicknames that could ground the general stuffiness that Sylvia can carry. Delaney has a sunny disposition but remains stunted as a cute/ trendy name.

Sylvia gets my vote

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I like Sylvia a lot better. It's an older name that's coming back into fashion, it flows beautifully and will age well, but can also be shortened to the cute Sylvie or cool Via.

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Delaney sounds much less nice to my ear and I admit I find it a bit awkward to say (and yes, I have met a Delaney in person). Not that it's complicated, per se, but it just trips me up. That, and I don't think nicknames Laney or Lane are attractive.

Sylvia is miles better than Delaney. I hope that's respectful.

I like both names. I really love Delaney, it sounds a little more fresh and lively than Sylvia. Sylvia seems older than Delaney, but it is also more classic. If you were to go with Sylvia I would change it to Sylvie because its spunkier. I agree that Sylvia Delaney or Delaney Sylvia would be nice combinations depending on which name you choose for the first.

short answer: Sylvia.

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tl;dr - That's a strange choice. This reminds me a little of when we had three names picked out for our daughter. One more fashionable style, the others more classic. We used the fashionable one, because I felt like the classic ones were overdressed for our family's style. No regrets - she loves her name and so do we - but neither would I have regretted using a classic name, and I have a suspicion now, nine years later, I might have been even more pleased with myself if I had.

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Classic names have a value that trendy names don't have, and it only increases as names diversify and the chances of running into other people with the same name decrease (a significantly smaller percentage of kids get named a top ten name, than 25 years ago, for example).

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I think if I were going to be the child born in 2015 and growing up as either Sylvia or Delaney, I'd much, much rather be Sylvia. (Would you? Asking yourself this might help you decide) Especially if I could call myself Sylvie, which sounds younger and more fashionable than Sylvia. I'd rather be a Sylvia at any age except maybe while I was under 17. They'll still be naming babies Sylvia (sure maybe not many, but some) in a hundred years when she's a grandma ... not sure I can say the same about Delaney. (But, those first 17 years seem as long as the next 70, so that's a point. lol)

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Delaney has a very appealing sound. But it seems very similar to Mackenzie and Madison - a surname-name fad already on its way out of fashion, and liable to make a 2015-born young woman sound older than she is. (My own name was popular about 20 years before I was born, and then it crashed out of style, and this "sounds older" effect did disappoint me when I was a young woman) And anyway I feel it's too much a surname. Maybe I'd feel differently if I knew a Delaney personally for a while, though - it's not an outrageously common surname.

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Anyway either name is good but Sylvia's my preference.

Sylvia Delaney would actually make a good combo, in my opinion! Delaney Sylvia is pretty cool too though....hmmmmm.

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I'd pick Sylvia, if it was me. I love the nickname Syl.

Sylvia.

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I'm really not a fan of both but Sylvia is more mature and classic.

Sylvia. I think it's a gorgeous, classy name full of spunk and life. I never "got" the appeal of Delaney, personally; I don't think it's a bad name, really, just kind of...underwhelming and lackluster. Sort of dreary, actually. I don't think it can hold a candle to Sylvia.

Sylvia, because it's more classic.

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:)

Sylvia. It is a beautiful and timeless name, though I prefer it spelt Silvia.

While I like Sylvia, I slightly prefer Delaney. I've always thought of Delaney as a sunny-happy sort of name.

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Have you ever thought about Sylvie instead of Sylvia? It might be a good way to combine the perkiness of Delaney with the more classic vibe of Sylvia.

I'm gonna say...Delaney.

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Yes, it's trendier than Sylvia, but when I think about it I would rather be Delaney than Sylvia. Sylvia is nice, but it's definitely an old lady name. Not too crazy about the nickname Sylvie, either. Delaney might become dated in the future, but I never see that as a big problem. It's just... happier sounding. I would definitely go with Delaney.

This message was edited 3/24/2015, 1:58 PM

Sylvia is one of my favourite names, I think its lovely

Neither to be honest. But if I really had to, I'd go with Sylvia.

I actually like Delaney. I think it is far less common and has a strength to it.

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However, if you gave the option of Sylvie (instead of Sylvia) I would likely choose that, just because it is softer, livelier and more feminine than Delaney.

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I guess I am biased by the 90s and the oodles of teen movies with a "Laney" character.

It depends on what you're going for. Sylvia is more classic and elegant and will suit a girl/woman of any age. Delaney is more vibrant and youthful and doesn't have that timeless feel to it. That being said, while classic is usually my style, I've never warmed to Sylvia yet Delaney is a definite guilty pleasure of mine.

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One last thought: Try to imagine this child's brother or sister and what you'd name him or her. Does Sylvia or Delaney complement those names?

Sylvia, Sylvia, and Sylvia...

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Sylvia. Absolutely beautiful name, with a wonderful vintage elegance and Grace, but still feisty and strong willed. One of my favourites.

This message was edited 3/24/2015, 12:29 PM

Sylvia

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Sylvia is beautiful, and ages well. Delaney is cute, but sounds a little youngish.

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Maybe you could name your daughter Sylvia Delaney?

Sylvia sounds prettier.