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The short answer
Sylvia is a feminine name used in English and German. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Variant of Silvia. This has been the most common English spelling since the 19th century." It ranked #300 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, variant of Silvia. This has been the most common English spelling since the 19th century. The entry lists its usage as English, German, Dutch, Swedish and others.
Editorial confidence: likely
Popularity
Sylvia ranked #300 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #300 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (English) and that sit near Sylvia in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sylvia mean?
Behind the Name does not give Sylvia a one-word meaning. It describes the name as follows: variant of Silvia.
Is Sylvia a popular name?
Sylvia ranked #300 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Sylvia a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Sylvia appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Sylvia — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
