Fun Facts About the Name Sylvia
- A favorite of earlier generations: Sylvia appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 36 years. Its last run lasted 21 consecutive years, from 1932 through 1952.
- More than 245 thousand babies named Sylvia: U.S. records list 245,966 babies given the name Sylvia from 1880 through 2025. Even 908 boys received the name Sylvia - about 1 boy for every 270 girls.
What Does the Name Sylvia Mean?
Sylvia is a feminine name meaning "of the woods" or "from the forest." It comes from Latin, where it developed as the feminine counterpart of Silvius, a Roman family name built on silva, the Latin word for a wood or forest. The feminine form Silvia was used in ancient Rome, and Sylvia is a later spelling variant of it; the y reflects an orthographic convention rather than a different origin or meaning.
The literal sense is tied to woodland, and the name is sometimes given the looser interpretive sense of "forest-dweller." That symbolic reading grows out of the same root, not from a separate source. The masculine Silvius and the feminine Silvia share this root; the Italian and Spanish Silvia descends from the same Latin name.
Sylvia Name History & Origins
The name's oldest layer is Roman. In Roman mythology, Rhea Silvia was the mother of the twins Romulus and Remus by the god Mars, which gave the name a place in Rome's founding legend. Latin writers also used Silvius and related forms; in Virgil's Aeneid, Silvius appears in the line of Alban kings. These are literary and legendary uses, not the earliest documentary records of the name.
In the early Middle Ages the name was borne by Saint Silvia, the mother of Pope Gregory the Great, which helped keep the name in use in Italy and other parts of Europe. The spelling Sylvia became established in English alongside Silvia. It appears in English literature, including Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, where Silvia is a central character. From there it spread as a familiar given name in the English-speaking world, keeping its connection to the Latin word for woodland.
How Popular is the Name Sylvia?
Sylvia ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1909 through 1923, then returned in 1932 and remained through 1952.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #300 | 1,017 | 0.0633% |
| 2024 | #361 | 863 | 0.0535% |
| 2023 | #426 | 724 | 0.0452% |
| 2022 | #438 | 720 | 0.0439% |
| 2021 | #466 | 673 | 0.0410% |
| 2020 | #502 | 605 | 0.0374% |
| 2019 | #511 | 616 | 0.0367% |
| 2018 | #492 | 633 | 0.0372% |
| 2017 | #484 | 646 | 0.0374% |
| 2016 | #503 | 621 | 0.0351% |
| 2015 | #484 | 662 | 0.0371% |
| 2014 | #491 | 636 | 0.0356% |
| 2013 | #507 | 594 | 0.0339% |
| 2012 | #526 | 578 | 0.0328% |
| 2011 | #551 | 531 | 0.0302% |
| 2010 | #557 | 525 | 0.0295% |
| 2009 | #549 | 555 | 0.0302% |
| 2008 | #554 | 556 | 0.0294% |
| 2007 | #533 | 588 | 0.0306% |
| 2006 | #520 | 581 | 0.0306% |
| 2005 | #529 | 547 | 0.0296% |
| 2004 | #557 | 513 | 0.0279% |
| 2003 | #550 | 504 | 0.0276% |
| 2002 | #513 | 535 | 0.0298% |
| 2001 | #517 | 519 | 0.0288% |
| 2000 | #497 | 542 | 0.0298% |
| 1999 | #482 | 539 | 0.0304% |
| 1998 | #468 | 553 | 0.0313% |
| 1997 | #484 | 518 | 0.0298% |
| 1996 | #452 | 553 | 0.0315% |
| 1995 | #436 | 589 | 0.0335% |
| 1994 | #426 | 593 | 0.0332% |
| 1993 | #372 | 685 | 0.0379% |
| 1992 | #361 | 711 | 0.0386% |
| 1991 | #322 | 831 | 0.0443% |
| 1990 | #334 | 818 | 0.0431% |
| 1989 | #319 | 799 | 0.0433% |
| 1988 | #291 | 856 | 0.0481% |
| 1987 | #285 | 863 | 0.0496% |
| 1986 | #280 | 879 | 0.0512% |
| 1985 | #271 | 931 | 0.0541% |
| 1984 | #248 | 1,004 | 0.0596% |
| 1983 | #238 | 1,038 | 0.0621% |
| 1982 | #254 | 983 | 0.0581% |
| 1981 | #247 | 1,008 | 0.0604% |
| 1980 | #264 | 962 | 0.0579% |
| 1979 | #247 | 1,016 | 0.0633% |
| 1978 | #251 | 948 | 0.0619% |
| 1977 | #255 | 982 | 0.0641% |
| 1976 | #228 | 1,057 | 0.0721% |
| 1975 | #215 | 1,143 | 0.0784% |
| 1974 | #189 | 1,353 | 0.0922% |
| 1973 | #193 | 1,347 | 0.0924% |
| 1972 | #194 | 1,465 | 0.0963% |
| 1971 | #194 | 1,577 | 0.0948% |
| 1970 | #189 | 1,728 | 0.0988% |
| 1969 | #178 | 1,813 | 0.1075% |
| 1968 | #164 | 1,963 | 0.1197% |
| 1967 | #156 | 2,213 | 0.1340% |
| 1966 | #146 | 2,410 | 0.1424% |
| 1965 | #131 | 2,960 | 0.1677% |
| 1964 | #137 | 2,944 | 0.1554% |
| 1963 | #128 | 3,281 | 0.1702% |
| 1962 | #131 | 3,458 | 0.1758% |
| 1961 | #124 | 3,752 | 0.1859% |
| 1960 | #121 | 3,825 | 0.1892% |
| 1959 | #120 | 3,853 | 0.1904% |
| 1958 | #114 | 4,156 | 0.2066% |
| 1957 | #109 | 4,308 | 0.2107% |
| 1956 | #108 | 4,146 | 0.2065% |
| 1955 | #107 | 4,003 | 0.2047% |
| 1954 | #101 | 4,084 | 0.2103% |
| 1953 | #101 | 3,812 | 0.2026% |
| 1952 | #99 | 3,789 | 0.2043% |
| 1951 | #97 | 3,777 | 0.2097% |
| 1950 | #97 | 3,612 | 0.2109% |
| 1949 | #94 | 3,816 | 0.2230% |
| 1948 | #100 | 3,671 | 0.2162% |
| 1947 | #97 | 4,100 | 0.2313% |
| 1946 | #82 | 4,093 | 0.2605% |
| 1945 | #83 | 3,375 | 0.2582% |
| 1944 | #83 | 3,291 | 0.2480% |
| 1943 | #77 | 3,623 | 0.2597% |
| 1942 | #72 | 3,728 | 0.2760% |
| 1941 | #65 | 3,788 | 0.3135% |
| 1940 | #62 | 3,802 | 0.3325% |
| 1939 | #62 | 3,870 | 0.3529% |
| 1938 | #56 | 4,258 | 0.3859% |
| 1937 | #50 | 4,371 | 0.4108% |
| 1936 | #53 | 4,156 | 0.3995% |
| 1935 | #60 | 3,620 | 0.3452% |
| 1934 | #70 | 3,475 | 0.3328% |
| 1933 | #84 | 2,935 | 0.2912% |
| 1932 | #96 | 2,568 | 0.2406% |
| 1931 | #123 | 1,927 | 0.1810% |
| 1930 | #132 | 1,830 | 0.1625% |
| 1929 | #119 | 2,037 | 0.1824% |
| 1928 | #119 | 2,222 | 0.1927% |
| 1927 | #116 | 2,347 | 0.1968% |
| 1926 | #107 | 2,528 | 0.2133% |
| 1925 | #106 | 2,537 | 0.2084% |
| 1924 | #104 | 2,757 | 0.2208% |
| 1923 | #98 | 2,838 | 0.2353% |
| 1922 | #94 | 2,961 | 0.2465% |
| 1921 | #88 | 3,297 | 0.2674% |
| 1920 | #85 | 3,317 | 0.2768% |
| 1919 | #77 | 3,412 | 0.3019% |
| 1918 | #71 | 3,675 | 0.3175% |
| 1917 | #69 | 3,469 | 0.3208% |
| 1916 | #69 | 3,414 | 0.3269% |
| 1915 | #67 | 3,284 | 0.3338% |
| 1914 | #70 | 2,565 | 0.3368% |
| 1913 | #72 | 2,013 | 0.3223% |
| 1912 | #77 | 1,639 | 0.2937% |
| 1911 | #82 | 1,184 | 0.2830% |
| 1910 | #92 | 1,000 | 0.2522% |
| 1909 | #93 | 847 | 0.2439% |
| 1908 | #101 | 748 | 0.2237% |
| 1907 | #109 | 611 | 0.1918% |
| 1906 | #107 | 617 | 0.2089% |
| 1905 | #120 | 528 | 0.1811% |
| 1904 | #119 | 497 | 0.1805% |
| 1903 | #120 | 464 | 0.1771% |
| 1902 | #136 | 411 | 0.1556% |
| 1901 | #129 | 390 | 0.1629% |
| 1900 | #137 | 446 | 0.1488% |
| 1899 | #130 | 371 | 0.1592% |
| 1898 | #133 | 391 | 0.1511% |
| 1897 | #135 | 357 | 0.1524% |
| 1896 | #140 | 340 | 0.1429% |
| 1895 | #157 | 276 | 0.1181% |
| 1894 | #153 | 288 | 0.1292% |
| 1893 | #144 | 286 | 0.1343% |
| 1892 | #149 | 275 | 0.1295% |
| 1891 | #156 | 218 | 0.1175% |
| 1890 | #158 | 223 | 0.1171% |
| 1889 | #178 | 166 | 0.0931% |
| 1888 | #174 | 166 | 0.0929% |
| 1887 | #173 | 135 | 0.0925% |
| 1886 | #167 | 137 | 0.0948% |
| 1885 | #173 | 112 | 0.0842% |
| 1884 | #199 | 87 | 0.0674% |
| 1883 | #192 | 79 | 0.0703% |
| 1882 | #179 | 79 | 0.0733% |
| 1881 | #187 | 67 | 0.0729% |
| 1880 | #162 | 81 | 0.0890% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | #9,641 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1990 | #9,333 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1989 | #6,156 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #5,675 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #5,398 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #5,856 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1985 | #5,696 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1984 | #3,432 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #6,128 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1982 | #4,936 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1981 | #6,160 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1980 | #5,449 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1979 | #6,960 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #5,679 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1977 | #4,537 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1976 | #6,392 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #3,914 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1974 | #3,804 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1972 | #5,655 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #3,123 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,255 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #2,533 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #2,715 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #2,457 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #3,904 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #2,360 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1964 | #2,647 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #2,522 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #1,849 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #1,816 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1960 | #2,851 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1959 | #1,967 | 18 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,491 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1957 | #1,748 | 22 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #3,188 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1955 | #2,421 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1954 | #2,925 | 9 | 0.0004% |
| 1953 | #3,399 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #3,078 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1951 | #2,642 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1950 | #2,561 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1949 | #2,781 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1948 | #2,764 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #1,981 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1946 | #2,134 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1945 | #2,233 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #1,880 | 15 | 0.0011% |
| 1943 | #1,760 | 18 | 0.0013% |
| 1942 | #3,187 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #1,814 | 16 | 0.0013% |
| 1940 | #1,566 | 20 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,454 | 22 | 0.0020% |
| 1938 | #2,079 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1937 | #1,682 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1936 | #1,381 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1935 | #1,650 | 19 | 0.0018% |
| 1934 | #1,849 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #2,086 | 13 | 0.0013% |
| 1932 | #1,917 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #2,315 | 12 | 0.0012% |
| 1930 | #2,590 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1929 | #1,995 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #2,147 | 15 | 0.0014% |
| 1927 | #3,121 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1926 | #2,064 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1925 | #2,000 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1924 | #3,825 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #2,320 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1922 | #3,829 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1921 | #1,974 | 18 | 0.0016% |
| 1920 | #4,903 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1919 | #3,700 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1918 | #3,338 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1917 | #2,403 | 12 | 0.0013% |
| 1916 | #3,151 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1915 | #3,042 | 8 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #1,856 | 13 | 0.0020% |
| 1913 | #2,074 | 9 | 0.0018% |
| 1912 | #1,871 | 9 | 0.0021% |
| 1907 | #1,329 | 6 | 0.0041% |
| 1906 | #1,398 | 5 | 0.0038% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Sylvia
Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.
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How the Name Sylvia Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are inventive, intuitive and extremely methodical. Since your will is so strong, you are hard to convince. You also dislike advice. You love beauty and philosophy, and you desire achievement. You have a strong need for freedom - physical, mental and spiritual.
You are very intuitive. You have a reservoir of inspired wisdom combined with inherited analytical ability, which could reward you through expressions of spiritual leadership, business analysis, marketing, artistic visions, and scientific research. Operating on spiritual side of your individuality can bring you to the great heights, and drop you off if you neglect your spiritual identity. You are always looking for an opportunity to investigate the unknown, to use and show your mental abilities, to find the purpose and meaning of life. You want to grow wise and to understand people and things. You need privacy to replenish your energy. You have a unique way of thinking, intuitive, reflective, absorbing.
✦ Sylvia's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sylvia's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.