Comments
Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
Impression
Other
For the Dutch pronunciation of Sylvia, you can listen to the audio clips featured on the websites below:
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sylvia (in Dutch)
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/Sylvia/nl/ (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/teLnGFZ3WoU (in Dutch; the name is said at 1:24)
• https://youtu.be/9Dhx9hHLHgU (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:05 and 0:50)
Converted to IPA, it should be: /'sɪl.vi.ja:/
I should add that Silvia (also in the main database) has the exact same pronunciation as Sylvia in Dutch, as there is no difference in pronunciation between -i- and -y- in this case. [noted -ed]
2
• https://nl.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sylvia (in Dutch)
• https://nl.forvo.com/search/Sylvia/nl/ (in Dutch)
• https://youtu.be/teLnGFZ3WoU (in Dutch; the name is said at 1:24)
• https://youtu.be/9Dhx9hHLHgU (in Dutch; the name is said at 0:05 and 0:50)
Converted to IPA, it should be: /'sɪl.vi.ja:/
I should add that Silvia (also in the main database) has the exact same pronunciation as Sylvia in Dutch, as there is no difference in pronunciation between -i- and -y- in this case. [noted -ed]
2
I think this name is alright, but it's a little weird to me because it makes me think of silver and saliva. I always had these associations.
-2
-2
I thought this name was more common because I've been hearing it everywhere lately, but it only ranks at 434.
2
2
The meaning of the name Sylvia is “of the forest” which I find to be very beautiful. No wonder most people I know with this name are connected to nature on a deeper level and love to be outdoors.
2
2
Sylvia, spelled as Szilvia is a very popular name in Hungary. It was super popular in the 1980s all the way to the 2000s. I was born and raised in Hungary and have known many ladies with the name Szilvia. I was shocked to learn that the name Sylvia is much less common in the US and is considered an old lady name by some. I don’t agree with that in any way and I’m overjoyed to see Sylvia becoming more popular. The most common nickname to Szilvia is Szilvi, which is pronounced the same way as Sylvie.
1
1
Sylvia is the name of a very good friend of mine. She is in her early 30s, just like me. I very much prefer Sylvia to Sylvie which is a cute nickname though or a great name for someone with French origin. Sylvia looks and sounds classy, timeless, and sophisticated. This name feels soft, feminine, and natural with no harsh letters. It flows just beautifully. I’m so happy to see the name Sylvia becoming more and more popular. Sylvia will be always youthful, fresh, and ready to use. Never dusty or clunky. If I didn’t already have a name planned for my daughter, I would gladly name her Sylvia.
3
3
There is a 1972 Elvis Presley song called Sylvia.
3
3
Sylvia La Torre-Perez de Tagle, known as Sylvia La Torre (1933 – 2022), was a Filipino singer, actress, and radio star.
1
1
Sylvia, originally Sylvia, ou La nymphe de Diane, is a full-length ballet in two or three acts, first choreographed by Louis Mérante to music by Léo Delibes in 1876. Sylvia is a typical classical ballet in many respects, yet it has many interesting features that make it unique. The work is notable for its mythological Arcadian setting, creative choreographies, expansive sets and, above all, its remarkable score.
2
2
Truly a timeless name. It's so beautiful.
5
5
This is my daughter's name. She's 2 and we call her Sylvie mostly, but she has a lot of nicknames. The name suits her and I think it's beautiful and classic.
6
6
Also French: https://meilleursprenoms.com/popularite-prenom/Sylvia
3
3
Sylvia is also occasionally used in Brazil, though here it's much less common than Silvia.
3
3
Crazy about this name ever since I was little. It's shimmery and lovely and has a classic timelessness. Very pretty.
10
10
Gorgeous name! Would love to use it for a child!
7
7
Could be a great alternative to the name Olivia, with that same "via" ending. Also classic feel but less commonly used. It is on my long list of great names.
4
4
Sylvia Plath was a famous poet and novelist with this name. I think this famous bearer adds a sort of intellectual hint to the name. I like the spelling Sylvia better than Silvia, probably because I am addicted to names with the letter y in the middle. Overall, I think it is a very pretty name.
9
9
Sil - vee - ah.
7
7
I think it's a beautiful name. I would love to use it on one of my children!
12
12
I love it! I would name a child this for sure.
7
7
I love this name! I've only met one Sylvia in my life. I also think the nicknames Silva/Silver are sweet! I don't know how Sylvia & Sophia can be mistaken for one another when they sound nothing alike. And as far as the name being "outdated" or "old-fashioned", you can make the same argument for a good portion of the names on the list that have been around forever.
6
6
A little old-fashioned, but not bad.
4
4
My name is Sylvia and I used to not understand why people thought my name was so pretty. But as years passed by I now respect the name my parents gave me. It also is fun because when my mom put on the movie "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" the song Silver and Gold showed up and my dad came up with a nickname which is Sylvia Gold and my dad has called me that ever since. I also like the meaning of Sylvia and the fact that there is a Y instead of an I- makes it look pretty.
8
8
Finnish name day August 8.
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia
https://almanakka.helsinki.fi/en/name-days/name-day-search.html
3
https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia
https://almanakka.helsinki.fi/en/name-days/name-day-search.html
3
Reminds me of Syphilis, sorry.
-18
-18
Also occasionally used in Estonia: https://www.stat.ee/public/apps/nimed/
3
3
The only thing that comes to mind when I hear this name is “Sylvia Webb” from Little House on the Prairie! Eh...
1
1
This is my mother's name and I love it! It's really beautiful and refined, and yet cute and sparky at the same time. I have a strong association with my mother for the name Sylvia. Her nicknames are Syl, Sylvie, Sophie and Soph, chiefly. My second daughter, if I have one, will be named Sylvia, with Via as a nickname (my first daughter will be Marion). My mother has never been called Via, but I got it from a book and both of us really like it.
5
5
Sylvia Likens was a 16 year old girl from Indiana who was tortured to death by a family friend, Gertrude Baniszewski, and her children, whom Sylvia and her 15 year old sister Jenny were left in the care of while their parents were traveling. May she rest in peace.
2
2
Sylvia seems a strong, firm, beautiful name. I much prefer Sylvia to Silvia and Sylvie. Diminutives include Via and Syl, and I like both of those (though I prefer the full name).
7
7
Sylvia seems a strong and firm but kind name. I agree with some others that it is a lot better than Silvia - Silvia seems very frivolous, but Sylvia so wholesome. It somehow reminds me of a forest, like its meaning.
7
7
Sylvia is a strong, classic name with a nature-feeling and a 1800s aristocratic vibe in my opinion. My favourite combo with it is Sylvia Edith: just lovely.
I've heard of a lot of bearers but Sylvia just looks like its Italian form Silvia that is so popular in Italy. Too many bearers made it without a specific tie.
5
I've heard of a lot of bearers but Sylvia just looks like its Italian form Silvia that is so popular in Italy. Too many bearers made it without a specific tie.
5
In 2018, 53 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Sylvia who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 316th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
5
5
OMG SYLVIA FREAKN' WEBB! YAS GIRL! And one of Albert's (Matthew Labyorteaux's) girlfriends on Little House on the Prairie.
-2
-2
I love this name. It's the name of my girlfriend so it carries such a sweet ring for me. I would name all of my future daughters this, but that might get confusing. I love you Sylvia!
10
10
Sylvia Rivera was a famous LGBT activist who participated in the Stonewall riots and founded several LGBT liberation organizations that focused on transgender women of color.
5
5
Sylvia Pankhurst (1882-1960) was a suffragette, socialist, and anti-fascist.
4
4
Sylvia is the name of a character in Muzzy.
4
4
Sylvia Jane Hutton (1956), singer-songwriter.
3
3
Sylvia Maria Kristel was a Dutch actress who performed in over 50 films, including as the lead character in five of the seven Emmanuelle films. Kristel was born in Utrecht, Netherlands, the elder daughter of an innkeeper, Jean-Nicholas Kristel, and his wife Pietje Hendrika Lamme. In her 2006 autobiography, Nue, she stated that she was sexually abused by an elderly hotel guest when she was nine years old, an experience she otherwise refused to discuss. Her parents divorced when she was 14 years old after her father abandoned the family for another woman. "It was the saddest thing that ever happened to me", she said of the experience of her parents' separation.
2
2
I think it's an okay name.
0
0
Sylvia is the name of a zbornak from the show 'Wander Over Yonder'. She is Wander's best and loyal friend.
4
4
My daughter (born in 2015) is named Sylvia. I love the meaning of the name, as well as the way it sounds and looks on paper. The anglicized spelling with the y looks more attractive to me. It definitely has an old lady vibe, but is graceful and classic rather than dowdy.
Sylvia does sound similar to the currently popular Sophia, and the nickname Sylvie sounds very much like Sophie. I've experienced people mistaking my daughter's name for these when I've introduced her quite a few times. I also jokingly call her Saliva when she is teething, and I imagine this could be a future playground taunt too.
4
Sylvia does sound similar to the currently popular Sophia, and the nickname Sylvie sounds very much like Sophie. I've experienced people mistaking my daughter's name for these when I've introduced her quite a few times. I also jokingly call her Saliva when she is teething, and I imagine this could be a future playground taunt too.
4
Sylvia is a very pretty, unique name with a creative twist to the name Silvia. A cute nickname is Via.
7
7
There is a very famous romantic poem about a Sylvia, that many older people learn in school in Italy. I had the whole poem recited to me by a teacher/lecturer in Rome. Unfortunately I was not able to understand most of it, however it was a wonderful experience and was partially translated for me. It tells of a broken heart and tragedy. My name is Sylvia and I have German and Italian ancestry.
3
3
This is my name and it means of the forest. I have always loved it. There is a song in a Shakespeare play 'Who is Sylvia' and Schubert wrote the music to it. My mum told me when I was born they didn't have a girl's name ready then one day the song played on the radio and I smiled so they picked the name for me.
It's a bit worrying that so many people see it as an old woman's name but I guess I am old now, I rather hope it will come back and maybe I will have a granddaughter named for me.
3
It's a bit worrying that so many people see it as an old woman's name but I guess I am old now, I rather hope it will come back and maybe I will have a granddaughter named for me.
3
Sylvia Plath is a famous bearer. I like this name very much.
4
4
Sylvia is the name of SE Hinton's character in the Outsiders. Sylvia is a minor character only mentioned in the book, and has not made any appearances in either book or movie. Sylvia is a greaser girl, and also the girlfriend of Dallas Winston, who she cheated on while he was in the cooler. It was also mentioned that before, when Dallas was in reform school, she tried sweet-talking Johnny Cade, one of the gang, and was then threatened that she would get the tar beaten out of her by Steve Randle. Needless to say, she laid low after that one.
0
0
A famous bearer is Sylvia Tyson from the folk duo Ian and Sylvia.
3
3
Sylvia Sidney (born Sophia Kosow on August 8, 1910, died July 1, 1999) was an American actress who rose to fame in the 1930's.
5
5
I like Sylvia. It's not a modern name and it's a little more exotic than Silvia.
4
4
Sylvia Fowles is an American basketball player and Olympic gold medalist. She was born 1985 in Miami, Florida.
2
2
Sylvia Plath was an American novelist and poet. She was born on October 27, 1932 in Boston, Massachusetts.
3
3
Doesn't it mean "of the forest," like the word "sylvan?" Which is a nice meaning.
2
2
Nice, but I prefer Cecilia.
0
0
A famous bearer is photojournalist Sylvia Plachý (born 1943 in Budapest, Magyar), an American photographer of Czech-Jewish and Hungarian-Catholic descents.
2
2
I cannot believe no one mentioned the song Sylvia's Mother by Dr Hook and the Medicine Show.
2
2
'Sylvia' is a ballet by Leo Delibes where the name refers to the goddess Diana -the goddess of the forests (Selva in Latin).
3
3
This would be a pretty name. If I didn't only know women older than 70 with this name. But hey, they were all young at some point. (I think this name's popularity in America peaked during the Great Depression. Don't know about the rest of the world.)
1
1
I think this is such a lovely name. I think it looks better than Silvia. Sylvia could work for anyone, in my opinion. I have heard of "Sylv" as a nickname for Sylvia.
1
1
This is such a lovely name. I'm so surprised this is not more popular since it is similar to other popular names like Sophia and Olivia. It has the v in the middle and names with v either in the middle or beginning seem to be catching on, such as Ava, Eva, Evelyn, Genevieve, Geneva, etc. I really hope this name doesn't get too popular. If I have another daughter I was thinking of naming her Sylvie, but would use Sylvia. I only prefer Sylvie in my situation because it complements honoring middle names better and with my daughter being named Fiona, I think Fiona and Sylvie sounds less repetitive than Fiona and Sylvia.
2
2
This is actually a pretty name in English, even though it sounds like the name of an old woman. In Finnish, German, Swedish, and other languages with the sound equivalent of the German ü, this name is horrible. Silvia, however, is pretty in those languages as well, as it's pronounced like Sylvia is in English.
1
1
Nicknames: Sylvie, Sylva, Síva, Sisi, Sylvuška.
2
2
It´s also the Czech and Slovak form.
Name Day: 29th October (Czech).
0
Name Day: 29th October (Czech).
0
Even though it's my sister's name I've always thought of Sylvias as old crazy bingo playing women.
-3
-3
I love this name, it's my twin's name, and I think it's so awesome and pretty.
2
2
My sister is named Sylvia. To me it is classic. She is only 20 so it is unique and no one else her age shares this name.
2
2
Sylvia Browne (born Sylvia Celeste Shoemaker on October 19, 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri) is an alleged psychic and medium, the author of numerous books on spirituality. In 1992 she was convicted of investment fraud and was assigned 200 hours of community service.
1
1
Sylvia was also the name of the mother of Ms. Fine in the older tv show The Nanny.
2
2
Sylvia was the name of Anita Ekberg's character in Fellini's La Dolce Vita, it was she who so famously went for a swim in the Trevi fountain in Rome.
2
2
Sylvia Fowler is one of the characters of the 1939 movie "The Women".
2
2
My mom has this name. Her name is Sylvia Minnie. Minnie is her grandma's name I believe and I think she has a pretty name! And her dad is from Germany so it works.
3
3
A Swedish queen spelled it Silvia rather than Sylvia. Personally, I like Silvia better.
2
2
A famous bearer of this name was female poet Sylvia Plath.
1
1
Comments are left by users of this website. They are not checked for accuracy.
I used to hate my name when I was younger because everyone else I knew had modern, sort of pop-y names like Emma, Isabella, and so on. One day, I was talking to one of my friends about the meanings of our names, and decided to search mine up.
Sylvia, "spirit of the woods" or "spirit of the forest." Serene and picturesque, mature yet peculiarly innocent in a way.
I've also come to notice how I've grown to love nature at the same pace as I've grown to love my name. Spirit of the forest indeed.