My husband and I have pretty much decided on the name [name]Sylvia[/name] for our future daughter (not pregnant or TTC, but hoping to start our family in the next year or two). Personally, it’s not my favorite, but it’s growing on me. My favorite name is [name]Sophia[/name], but I dislike it’s popularity. The hubby is super picky, but he likes [name]Sylvia[/name] for the [name]Sylvia[/name] Plath reference, one of his favorite authors and poets. And she was an amazing woman, so that reference softens my attitude.
The big problem for me is that it conjures up images of white haired old ladies! And NB seems to concur. Is this a general consensus? We’ll people look at us funny if we eventually use this name, or do you think it is making a comeback? We can’t really use the variation [name]SYLVIE[/name] because of our last name (it rhymes with [name]HEIDI[/name], so any name ending in a long “ee” sound is not ideal).
And finally, to make this more interesting, I’d love to have a discussion of possible middle names for [name]Sylvia[/name], as well as potential sibling names (both boy and girl). We definitely want at least two children, and if we happen to have a girl named [name]Sylvia[/name] first I wonder what will complement that name. Having a two-syllable last name makes me lean toward one- and three-syllable names, but I’m open to a two-syllable name if it’s totally awesome (e.g., I love [name]WILLA[/name]).
(This is my first NB post. I’ve been lurking for a while and look forward to getting into the discussion!! Thanks to you all in advance!)
The only [name]Sylvia[/name] I’ve ever known in person is a few years younger than me. She’d be in her early 20s now, I think. Since I knew her as a little girl, that’s the image that’s stuck for me. I think it’s a nice name, and completely in line with all the Veras, Evelyns, and Adalaides I’m hearing recently.
The [name]Queen[/name] of [name]Sweden[/name] is [name]Sylvia[/name] which makes me think that the name is very regal and [name]Queen[/name]-like. She is an old lady now but it doesn’t matter, I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is classic and timeless!
[name]Hi[/name]! [name]Welcome[/name] to nameberry!
[name]Sylvia[/name] is a beautiful name, really classy [name]IMO[/name]. I don’t think of old ladies at all when I hear it! You could always use [name]Sylvie[/name] as a nn, very cute: )
(I’m beeing such a besserwisser these days (sorry!) but the queen of [name]Sweden[/name] is [name]Silvia[/name], which is the Italian version of [name]Sylvia[/name] I believe. I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is prettier though. )
I love [name]Sylvia[/name] - the look and sound of the name. It’s definitely an underused and underappreciated vintage gem. Is it old lady - yes - but in a good way. I’ll give you a comparison below and I hope it will eliminate your fears regarding [name]Sylvia[/name].
Good Old Lady Names
[name]Sylvia[/name]
[name]Agatha[/name]
[name]Edith[/name]
[name]Mabel[/name]
[name]Dorothy[/name]
[name]Florence[/name]
[name]Millicent[/name]
[name]Hazel[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name] / [name]Adeline[/name]
Bad Old Lady Names
[name]Bertha[/name]
[name]Mildred[/name]
[name]Eunice[/name]
[name]Myrtle[/name]
[name]Beulah[/name]
[name]Ethel[/name]
[name]Hildegarde[/name]
Some Middle Name Combos
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Fay[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Jane[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Paige[/name]
I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is a great alternative to [name]Sophia[/name]. I love it’s sound and meaning. It’s on my girl list if we ever have a girl - I love it. I don’t know anyone named [name]Sylvia[/name], so I don’t have the ‘old lady’ association.
Although I have an aunt in her 60’s named [name]Sylvia[/name], I think it is a lovely name for a girl. I think the nn [name]Sylvie[/name] is a cute way to make it sound more youthful.
No, actually, I [name]LOVE[/name] the name [name]Sylvia[/name]. You could always use the nn [name]Sylvie[/name], too. I know a little [name]Sylvia[/name], my ex-husband’s cousin’s daughter, she’s nearly two, very cute. She’s really the only [name]Sylvia[/name] I know, so I think of her, the perky little girl.
As for siblings, [name]Sylvia[/name] is rather fancy, so I think a fancy-ish name would go well with it.
And brother/sister options:
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Stuart[/name]/[name]Stewart[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Theodore[/name] ([name]Teddy[/name]/[name]Theo[/name])
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Wallace[/name]/[name]Walter[/name] ([name]Wally[/name])
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Willis[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Everett[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Louis[/name]/[name]Lewis[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Seymour[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Rex[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Clark[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Harvey[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Hugh[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Jules[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Conrad[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Warren[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Leon[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Claude[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Eldon[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Glen[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Mae[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]June[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Rhea[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Marian[/name]
Syvia and [name]Vivian[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Eloise[/name]/[name]Eloisa[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Elinor[/name]/[name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Lenora[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Ruthie[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Polly[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Ilene[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Marlys[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Petra[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Clara[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Helena[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Clementine[/name] ([name]Cleo[/name])
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Rosalie[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Cleo[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Charlotte[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Margot[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Opal[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Stasia[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Vivien[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Nell[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Antoinette[/name]
[name]Don[/name]'t know if any of these will stand out to you, but hope it helps!
It used to but not anymore. It’s revived and sounds fresh to me now. I think [name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Willa[/name] make a great sounding sib set!
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Maren[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Eden[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Naomi[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Claire[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Esme[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Neve[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Wren[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Camille[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Eleanor[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Janine[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Adeline[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Tess[/name]
As I know a [name]Sylvia[/name], and I am an old lady, yes it makes me think of old ladies. That said, judging by the response here, [name]Sylvia[/name] is viewed as new again and ready to go so use it.
I do think you should look at this great blog while you in the stage of making up your mind. She recommends [name]Louisa[/name] for [name]Sophia[/name] lovers, but many of the suggestions are wonderful.
I know a few people named [name]Sylvia[/name]/[name]Silvia[/name] and they’re all under 35. In fact, one of my friend’s just named her baby [name]Silvia[/name], so no, I don’t think of it as an old lady name.
I distantly know a seventeen-year-old [name]Sylvia[/name], so that has definitely freshened the image for me, but yes, it does make me think of old ladies. However, I would love to see it being used now! I think it’s a beautiful name. It was one of my favorites growing up! Go for it! I think once people see on a young face, they will no longer think of white-haired women.
The name [name]Sylvia[/name] makes me think of the brilliant Dr. Hook song “[name]Sylvia[/name]'s Mother”, and an old classmate of mine. To me, [name]Sylvia[/name] is a wonderfully musical name, reminding me of the 1920-1940’s. I personally think that it’s a [name]Golden[/name] [name]Favorite[/name] and isn’t used as much as it should be. Good luck with the family!
I don’t find [name]Sylvia[/name] old lady at all. This is probably because my only experience with it was when I was in college, there was a girl [name]Sylvia[/name] there. She’d only be about 23 now. She was one of the most fabulous people I have ever met. She went by [name]Sylvia[/name] 90% of the time, but would also respond to [name]Vivi[/name]. [name]Even[/name] without her I don’t think I would see it as old lady, I actually find it very similar to [name]Sophia[/name] in feel. A great alternative. Some MN ideas for [name]Sylvia[/name] (I’m a fan of the 3-1-2 rhythm):
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Wren[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Pearl[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Plum[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]June[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Joy[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Lark[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]True[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Paz[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Fawn[/name]
As for siblings I think [name]Sylvia[/name] and [name]Willa[/name] would make great sisters, though the -a does get repetitive if you say them together. Some other ideas for sisters:
[name]Louisa[/name]
[name]Annabel[/name]
[name]Georgia[/name]
[name]Antonia[/name]
[name]Veronica[/name]
[name]Tabitha[/name]
[name]Adelaide[/name]
[name]Amelie[/name]
[name]Camilla[/name]
[name]Francesca[/name]
[name]Delphine[/name]
[name]Emmeline[/name]
[name]Genevieve[/name]
[name]Isadora[/name]
[name]Phoebe[/name]
[name]Rosalind[/name]
[name]Felicity[/name]
For a brother:
[name]Rupert[/name]
[name]Oliver[/name]
[name]Abe[/name]
[name]Victor[/name]
[name]Norman[/name]
[name]Elliot[/name]
[name]Leo[/name]
[name]Lucien[/name]
[name]Alasdair[/name]
[name]Gerard[/name]
[name]Vincent[/name]
WOW! I’m so happy to hear that [name]Sylvia[/name] is making it’s way back into the mainstream, and that I am alone in associating it with little old ladies (not that there is ANYTHING wrong with little old ladies, I love them in fact! ) I really appreciate all the suggestions for middle and sibling names too! I definitely feel much more comfortable with this choice. Now the hubby and I just have to find some boy names we agree on. Some of my faves were mentioned – [name]Elliot[/name] and [name]Oliver[/name] are two – but he nixes EVERYTHING! (Which seems to be a common problem, lol!)
My daughter’s name is [name]Sylvie[/name] (or will be - she’s due in [name]September[/name]). I wish I liked [name]SylviA[/name] because it would sound better with my last name; for reasons I can’t pin-point, I just don’t. I’m not sure if it’s an old lady image, exactly, or how it’s possible I could dislike [name]Sylvia[/name] but loooooooooooooove [name]Sylvie[/name]. Similarly, I HATE [name]Sophia[/name] and love [name]Sophie[/name].
That said, judging by the response here, [name]Sylvia[/name] is viewed as new again and ready to go so use it.
I think once people see on a young face, they will no longer think of white-haired women.