How to say it
SYL · vi · a
ˈsɪl.vi.ə
Feminine
Sylvia
Of the forest
What it means
Latin for 'from the forest,' from silva, 'wood.' The full form behind the French Sylvie.
Sylvia is the Latin 'woodland' name, from silva, 'forest.' In Roman legend Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, which gave it ancient roots. It was a graceful staple for centuries and now reads vintage, carried in memory by the poet Sylvia Plath. The trimmer French Sylvie is its current cousin. Syl and Vivi serve as shorts.
How to spell Sylvia
The standard spelling is Sylvia. Common variants include Silvia, Sylvie, Silvana, but Sylvia is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #50 in 1937, currently #300 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Sylvia and Silvia are the Latin and Italian forms; Sylvie is the French.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Sylvia Plath American poet and author of The Bell Jar
- Rhea Silvia mother of Romulus and Remus in Roman myth
Spelling variants
- Silvia
- Sylvie
- Silvana
Names with the same feeling
See Sylvia from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Sylvia mean?
- Latin for 'from the forest,' from silva, 'wood.' The full form behind the French Sylvie.
- What does Sylvia mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Sylvia means "Of the forest." Sylvia is the Latin 'woodland' name, from silva, 'forest.' In Roman legend Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, which gave it ancient roots. It was a graceful staple for centuries and now reads vintage, carried in memory by the poet Sylvia Plath. The trimmer French Sylvie is its current cousin. Syl and Vivi serve as shorts.
- How do you pronounce Sylvia?
- Sylvia is pronounced ˈsɪl.vi.ə. Say it as SYL-vi-a, with the stress on the "syl" syllable.
- How do you spell Sylvia?
- The standard spelling is Sylvia. Common spelling variants include Silvia, Sylvie, Silvana.
- Is Sylvia a boy or girl name?
- Sylvia is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Sylvia?
- Sylvia ranked #300 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.