Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sylvia
GirlLatin· “forest”
- Meaning
- forest
- Origin
- Latin
- Pronunciation
- SIHL-vee-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #300
- US babies 2025
- 1,017
- Best rank
- #50 (1937)
- Peak year
- 1937
Meaning and origin of Sylvia
Sylvia is a Latin name that means “forest”.
Sylvia comes from the Latin silva, meaning forest or woodland. In Roman legend, Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the twins said to have founded Rome. A character spelled Silvia appears in Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, and the name was popular in the early twentieth century. Famous bearers include the poet Sylvia Plath and the marine biologist Sylvia Earle. Today Sylvia feels vintage and sophisticated, with a gentle nature connection. Sylvie and Via are pretty nicknames, and it pairs well with shorter middle names.
Other spellings with the same sound: Silvia.
Popularity over time
Sylvia has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #50 in 1937, the same year it reached its highest count of 4,371 babies. In 2025, 1,017 babies were named Sylvia, and it ranked #300 nationally. That is 54% more than ten years earlier, so it is clearly on the rise.
Its national rank moved from #85 in 1920, #97 in 1950, #264 in 1980, #497 in 2000, #557 in 2010, and #300 in 2025. Of the 245,070 US girls named Sylvia since records began, 16% were born in the 1950s, its biggest decade. The 1940s come next, with 37,288 babies. Since 2010, 10,654 more have been named Sylvia.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Loretta, Rosalie, Marlene, and Myrna.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sylvia ranked highest in Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota | #124 | 44 |
| Pennsylvania | #142 | 75 |
| Wisconsin | #158 | 34 |
| Oregon | #166 | 22 |
| Rhode Island | #177 | 6 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sylvia is usually pronounced SIHL-vee-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with S and ends in “-ia”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Silvia.
Middle names for Sylvia
A few middle names that flow with Sylvia: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sylvia
Similar names
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Lists that include Sylvia
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sylvia mean?
Sylvia is a Latin name that means “forest”.
What is the origin of the name Sylvia?
Sylvia has Latin roots. Sylvia comes from the Latin silva, meaning forest or woodland.
Is Sylvia a popular name?
Yes. Sylvia ranked #300 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Sylvia a boy or girl name?
Sylvia is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sylvia?
Sylvia is usually pronounced SIHL-vee-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings