Sylvia
Sylvia: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Sylvia
Root meaning: “forest”
- A female given name from Latin, a popular spelling variant of Silvia.
Etymology
Feminine form of a Medieval form of Silvius, from Latin silva (“forest”). In myths, Rhea Silvia was the mother of famous twins Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. 6th-century saint Silvia was the mother of the pope Gregory the Great.
How popular is Sylvia?
Since 1880, 245,070 girls and 908 boys in the U.S. have been named Sylvia (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #50 in 1937. Its highest rank for boys was #1329 in 1907. In 2025 it ranked #300 for girls, with 1,017 babies given the name.
Names similar to Sylvia
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Sylvia
Sister and brother names that share Sylvia's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Sylvia FAQ
What does the name Sylvia mean?
Sylvia traces back to a root meaning "forest". A female given name from Latin, a popular spelling variant of Silvia. Feminine form of a Medieval form of Silvius, from Latin silva (“forest”). In myths, Rhea Silvia was the mother of famous twins Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. 6th-century saint Silvia was the mother of the pope Gregory the Great.
What is the origin of the name Sylvia?
Sylvia is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Sylvia?
Since 1880, 245,070 girls and 908 boys in the U.S. have been named Sylvia (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #50 in 1937. Its highest rank for boys was #1329 in 1907. In 2025 it ranked #300 for girls, with 1,017 babies given the name.
Is Sylvia a boy or girl name?
Sylvia is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 245,070 girls and 908 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.