How to say it
SYL · vie
ˈsɪl.vi
Feminine
Sylvie
Of the forest
What it means
The French form of Sylvia, from the Latin silva, 'wood' or 'forest.'
Sylvie is the trim French form of Silvia, from Latin silva, 'forest.' In Roman legend Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, and a St. Silvia was the mother of Pope Gregory the Great. The French spelling reads chic and slightly bohemian, and it fits neatly with the current taste for woodland and nature names. Syl and Vivi are the casual shorts.
How to spell Sylvie
The standard spelling is Sylvie. Common variants include Sylvia, Silvia, Sylvee, but Sylvie is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #282 in 2025, currently #282 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
Sylvie is the French form; Sylvia and Silvia are the fuller Latin and Italian versions.
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.
- Rhea Silvia mother of Romulus and Remus in Roman mythology
Spelling variants
- Sylvia
- Silvia
- Sylvee
Names with the same feeling
See Sylvie from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Sylvie mean?
- The French form of Sylvia, from the Latin silva, 'wood' or 'forest.'
- What does Sylvie mean in French?
- In French, Sylvie means "Of the forest." Sylvie is the trim French form of Silvia, from Latin silva, 'forest.' In Roman legend Rhea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, and a St. Silvia was the mother of Pope Gregory the Great. The French spelling reads chic and slightly bohemian, and it fits neatly with the current taste for woodland and nature names. Syl and Vivi are the casual shorts.
- How do you pronounce Sylvie?
- Sylvie is pronounced ˈsɪl.vi. Say it as SYL-vie, with the stress on the "syl" syllable.
- How do you spell Sylvie?
- The standard spelling is Sylvie. Common spelling variants include Sylvia, Silvia, Sylvee.
- Is Sylvie a boy or girl name?
- Sylvie is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Sylvie?
- Sylvie ranked #282 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.