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Origin, Meaning, And History of Sylvia
Sylvia is a Latin name that means ‘from the forest’ or ‘woodland.’ It derives from the Latin word “silva,” which means ‘spirit of the wood,’ ‘forest’ or ‘wood.’ It is a feminine name that represents nature and beauty.
Sylvia derives from ancient Roman mythology. According to Roman mythology, Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, the celebrated founders of Rome. Sylvia is also the name of goddess of forests who, according to the, Roman mythology protects the forests and their inhabitants. Saint Sylvia, a 5th-century saint and the mother of Pope Saint Gregory the Great a patroness of pregnant women.
Sylvia is a name that has been around for a very long time. The name Sylvia was used throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, but it wasn’t until the 19th century that it gained acceptance in the English-speaking world. Romantic poets frequently used Sylvia for their lovely and innocent heroines and are credited with popularising the name.
The common variations of this name include Silvija (Croatian), Sylwia (Polish), Silvija (Latvian), Sylvette (French), Silvia (Italian), Sylvi (Norwegian), Silvina (Spanish), Silviana (Romanian), Sílvio (Portuguese), and Silviana (Italian).
The nicknames for the name Sylvia include Sylvie, Syl, Vi, Vee, Sivi, Via, Sylvi, Lya, Lia, Sil, Silla, Silly, Sylv, and Sylvee.
It is a well-known name in several cultures, including English, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and French. In the 1930s and 1940s, the name Sylvia was very popular in the United States. Its popularity declined in the 1950s and 1960s, but it has remained a well-known name since then.
The famous fictional characters with the name Sylvia include Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in the play “Finding Neverland,” Sylvia Tilly in the TV series “Star Trek: Discovery,” Sylvia Rosen in the TV series “Mad Men,” and Sylvia in the book “The Wanderer” by Sharon Creech.
How To Pronounce Sylvia?
Famous People With The Name Sylvia
- Sylvia LaughterAn American politician who was the first Navajo woman to serve in the Arizona legislature.
- Sylvia Alice EarleAn American oceanographer, biologist, author, explorer, and lecturer, who was named by Time Magazine as its first Hero for the Planet in 1998.
- Sylvia PlathAn American confessional poet, novelist, and short story writer, best known for two of her published collections, The Colossus and Other Poems (1960) and Ariel (1965).
- Sylvia Eliina RuuskaAn American medley, freestyle swimmer, Olympic medalist, and former world record-holder in two events.
- Sylvia SidneyAn American actress nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams in 1973.
Sylvia On The Popularity Chart
The popularity of the name Sylvia has fluctuated over time. The graphic representation of the popularity and ranking of this name is given below.
Popularity Over Time
The name’s popularity has seen slight ups and downs all throughout the history. Check out the graph to know more.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The ranking of the name has been in the top 1000 names since the 1980s, according to data from the Social Security Administration.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Sylvia
If you’re drawn to the sound of the name Sylvia and would like to find a unique name that has a similar sound, here are some options to consider
Names With The Similar Meaning As Sylvia
If you find the meaning of the name Sylvia attractive but are searching for alternative options, you might want to explore this list of names with similar meanings:
Name Numerology For Sylvia
