Sylvia

At a Glance: Name: Sylvia – Meaning: of the forest; forest spirit – Origin: Latin – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: SIL-vee-ah

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Sylvia is a Latin name meaning "of the forest" or "forest spirit," pronounced SIL-vee-ah. It's a vintage pick with an outdoorsy, nature-inspired, vintage feel that suits parents drawn to an old-fashioned name with an outdoorsy meaning behind it.

Meaning & Origin of Sylvia

Meaning: Of the forest; forest spirit.

Origin: Latin.

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Sylvia

Phonetic: SIL-vee-ah   IPA: /ˈsɪlviə/

Popularity of Sylvia

Sylvia hit its high point in 1937, when 4,371 baby girls were given the name, ranking it #50 that year. By 2024 it had cooled to #361, with 863 babies named Sylvia — still present, just far quieter than its late-1930s peak.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Sylvia Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Sylvia, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

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• Nova
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• Rose
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FAQ

What does the name Sylvia mean?

Of the forest; forest spirit. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sylvia)

How do you pronounce Sylvia?

Sylvia is pronounced SIL-vee-ah (IPA: /ˈsɪlviə/).

Is Sylvia a popular name right now?

Sylvia peaked at #50 in 1937 and is ranked #361 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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