Sylvia
Sylvia is derived from the Latin word 'silva,' meaning 'forest' or 'wood,' evoking a connection to nature and the outdoors. It has been used since ancient Roman times and gained popularity in English-speaking countries during the Victorian era.
Current Popularity
Popularity over time
Dashed bar: 2026 (projected): 1,109. How this is calculated
Yearly values
- 2011: 531
- 2012: 578
- 2013: 594
- 2014: 638
- 2015: 662
- 2016: 622
- 2017: 647
- 2018: 633
- 2019: 616
- 2020: 606
- 2021: 673
- 2022: 720
- 2023: 724
- 2024: 868
- 2025: 1,017
- 2026 (projected): 1,109
Good to Know
- •Easy to spell and pronounce in most languages
- •Strong literary associations, particularly with poet Sylvia Plath
- •Nature-inspired meaning appeals to parents seeking eco-conscious names
- •Nickname Sylvie offers a more contemporary, French-influenced option
Similar Names
Famous People
Sylvia Plath
Poet and novelist
Sylvia Earle
Marine biologist and oceanographer
Sylvia Rivera
LGBTQ+ rights activist
Sylvia Kristel
Dutch actress
Statistics
245,070
Total births since 1880
1937
Peak year
Discovery
Keep browsing
Rising now
Browse trending names
Names that climbed the most between 2020 and 2025.
Always popular
Explore timeless classics
Names that have sat in the top 50 for decades.
For this gender
See all-time favorites
The most common names since 1880, by total births.
Stories
Read famous-name profiles
How well-known people changed the names they carried.
Guides
Browse recent articles
Recent articles on naming trends.