Like Sylvie but NOT Sylvia - opinions/middle names/does it go with sibs?

Girl Names
1

Hi,

New member here, just discovered Nameberry - having fun looking through the site! We’re expecting third (and final!) daughter next month, and need help with names. We’re not ‘name people’, and had a hard enough time with the first two girl names, and now we need a third! :slight_smile: Our other girls’ names are Isabel Ada and Clara Quinn (I chose firsts and husband chose middles). Last name is Robinson, so pretty common/boring - first name needs to spice that up. :slight_smile: Trying to find something different but not too ‘out there’. Want it to be easy to pronounce/spell, timeless/not too trendy, and not a cross-over/could-be-boy name. With just 4 weeks left, I’ve just now started really thinking of names - need help getting perspective/opinions!

Last night in a bout of insomnia, I was combing name lists, and really liked SYLVIE. But really don’t like Sylvia (nor does husband - not sure yet what he thinks of Sylvie - he didn’t weigh in much on it this AM) - is that strange to pick a name so close to one we don’t like? (I guess we did the same with our Isabel - don’t like Isabella, but do like Isabel.) What I don’t like about Sylvia - first, Sylvia Plath associations, also feels old/stuffy. Sylvie is appealing for the French/European flair, feels fresher, more stylish/modern. I also like the meaning of the name being ‘of the woods’ too - we’re very outdoorsy. If it helps, other names I’ve considered, but have ruled out due to being too popular are Lily, Mia, Ella, Madeline/Maddie… Another name I’ve considered is Elise (still a contender), or Luz (if only it could be pronounced correctly in English, i.e., like ‘Luce/loose’)…

First off, honest thoughts/opinions on Sylvie? Too closely associated w/ Sylvia - might it often get substituted for that name we don’t like? Will the French/European affect not cross-over to the US (my husband and I both have spent a fair amount of time in Europe, so that’s an automatic for us, but realize it likely won’t be by others). Still sounding too ‘old’/outdated? It doesn’t even show up on top 1000 names on US Social Security site - I like the idea that it could be unique, but not totally unfamiliar - but is it too different to be appreciated here in the US? I’ve read some blogs that say it’s too much a ‘nickname’ feel to stand alone. I personally don’t see it different that way than other popular names now like Lily, Sophie, Sadie (all names I like) - agree/disagree?

Next, does it ‘fit’ with sibling names - Isabel, Clara, and now Sylvie? I personally think they go well together - different enough from each other to not sound like, but they still feel in same ‘genre’. What do you all think?

Which spelling - Sylvie, or Silvie? I prefer Sylvie, and think it would be the more ‘common’ (which I like - not into making names different in spelling - want the more intuitive one for the US), and that’s the French spelling - agreed that Y version is better?

Finally, ideas on middle names that would go well with Sylvie? My one family name that I may want to use is Anne, my mom’s name (as she’s battling stage 4 metastasized breast cancer as of recently, so although I’d never considered using it before, I have an emotional appeal to paying her tribute that way - although haven’t used MIL’s name, Lynn, which I don’t like, hope she wouldn’t be offended if we only used my mom’s?), so that’s one option - here’s the list of other ideas, none family names, that popped into mind (clearly seem to be leaning toward 1-syllable, due to long last name Robinson perhaps):
Sylvie Anne
Sylvie Laine/Lane
Sylvie Elise
Sylvie Mae (but husband didn’t like that when I threw it out to him this AM)
Sylvie Jane
Sylvie Cecile
Sylvie Camille

Whew - sorry for the long post and all the questions! But I’m at the preggo-brain point when I’m too tired/tunnel-vision right now to feel like I’ve got good perspective on my name thoughts - that’s what I get for procrastinating on names! Thank you for any/all feedback or ideas - open to suggestions, even to other first names, if you have any that seem to be a good fit!

2

I think [name]Sylvie[/name] is beautiful and much like you I love [name]Sylvie[/name] but not [name]Sylvia[/name]!

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] doesn’t work for me because the names smush together too much and it sounds like [name]Sylvianne[/name] rather than [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name].

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Mae[/name] and [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Jane[/name] are my favourites but I don’t love them

Other ideas…
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Charlotte[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Eden[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Isla[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Orla[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Lenore[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Grace[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Claire[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Hope[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Louise[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Juno[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Georgia[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]

3

I love [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]! Maybe you could use a variant of [name]Anne[/name], like [name]Anna[/name], [name]Anya[/name], [name]Annette[/name] or [name]Hannah[/name], because [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] makes me think [name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name]. I actually really like [name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name]… Maybe you could use that as a double barrel name and add a middle?

[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Eve[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Fay[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Skye[/name] [name]Robinson[/name] (I love this one- it has a very nature-y aspect)
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Faith[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Kate[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Ivy[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] [name]Esme[/name] [name]Robinson[/name]

I only like the spelling [name]Sylvie[/name]- it makes it less nicknamey. I think it goes well with [name]Isabel[/name] and [name]Clara[/name], but [name]Sylvie[/name]-[name]Anne[/name] makes it more established, and that would fit better. Lastly, I like [name]Sylvie[/name]. I think it’s pretty.

4

[name]Isabelle[/name], [name]Clara[/name], and [name]Sylvie[/name] are positively gorgeous together! I like that all three have different endings and have a certain refinement and familiarity. [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Jane[/name] gets my vote from your list on sound alone, but I also like [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Elise[/name] & [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] (see sidenote below…)

Thoughts:
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Kate[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Rae[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Paige[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Gwen[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Blythe[/name]

Sidenote: [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] is the main character in a series of [name]Tasha[/name] [name]Tudor[/name] childrens books (check one out if you havent seen them before, theyre adorable: http://www.amazon.com/Pumpkin-Moonshine-Tasha-Tudor/dp/0689828462) Sticks in my head because I was almost named [name]Sylvie[/name] after these books. :wink: Kind of a sweet connection if you end up having a little [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name].

5

Interesting how you consider this name uncommon. Where I live it is quite common ([name]Canada[/name]). I had two to three Sylvies in my class, a cousin named [name]Sylvie[/name], an aunt named [name]Sylvie[/name] and a friend named [name]Sylvie[/name]. I have never met a [name]Sylvia[/name] though. Personally I prefer [name]Sylvia[/name] because it sounds fresher and seems uncommon to me. Lol.

Anyway, if you like [name]Sylvie[/name], it is a lovely name. [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] does kind of roll into one name, though it flows nicely. [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Elise[/name] is nice. I really like it.

[name]How[/name] about [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Mireille[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Pascale[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Josephine[/name] (Not normally of fan of [name]Josephine[/name], but they go well together), [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Caroline[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Raine[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]May[/name]?

6

I know someone who named her daughter [name]Sophie[/name] but absolutely hates [name]Sophia[/name]. This reminded me of that. I think [name]Sylvie[/name] is a great name and doesn’t seem too cutesy… it can follow her to adulthood. It also goes beautifully with [name]Isabel[/name] and [name]Clara[/name]. I really like [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Elise[/name].

7

[name]Sylvie[/name] is a beautiful and stylish name, and matches sisters [name]Isabel[/name] and [name]Clara[/name] very well. Those would both be considered ‘antique revival’ names, and [name]Sylvie[/name] belongs to that category as well. I think the sound is quite distinct from [name]Sylvia[/name]-- it’s two syllables instead of three, the ending sound is different, and the stress is placed on a different part of the word.

I am so sorry to hear of your mother’s metastatic cancer. Honoring her would be very sweet, and I would hope your motheriin-law would understand completely.

[name]Sylvie[/name] pairs best with a 2/3 syllable middle name to balance 3-syllable [name]Robinson[/name]. The best flow will have the stress placed on any but the first syllable; French names will work especially well.

Thoughts:

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Ananda[/name] (“infinite joy” in Sanskrit)
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anneliese[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Annora[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Annette[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anouk[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Giovanna[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Julianne[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Leanne[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Luciana[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Marianne[/name]
[name]Sylvia[/name] [name]Rosanne[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Roxanne[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Tatiana[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Viviana[/name]

The only name I can think of combining [name]Lynn[/name] and [name]Ann[/name] is Annalina, if you like that.

8

Thanks for the feedback - glad you like [name]Sylvie[/name]! (And I’m not alone on the [name]Sylvia[/name] dislike.) Appreciate the feedback on [name]Anne[/name] as middle - I’m kind of with you there, they do run together. [name]Eden[/name] is an intriguing option for middle name, or my husband really likes [name]Juno[/name], so maybe that’s a way to sell him on [name]Sylvie[/name] - let him get middle naming rights again! :slight_smile:

9

Oops, my last post was meant to go to the first response - I hadn’t seen all the others yet (those were all helpful too, by the way - thanks!!) - clearly I’m a posting/forum tech newbie!

10

Thanks for the ideas! And I hadn’t heard of the [name]Tasha[/name] [name]Tudor[/name] books (or of protagonist [name]Sylvie[/name]) - I will definitely check them out!

11

I think [name]Sylvie[/name] is an excellent choice. It pairs with [name]Isabel[/name] and [name]Clara[/name] beautifully.

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name]–I’m so sorry about your mom. I don’t think that [name]Anne[/name] is the most inspired middle name to pair with [name]Sylvie[/name], but if you want to honor your mom, I think the sentiment trumps the rhythm–she’ll rarely use both names anyway.

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Laine[/name]/[name]Lane[/name]–I think 1) [name]Laine[/name] is too close to your [name]MIL[/name]'s name and 2) [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Lane[/name] sounds like an address.
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Elise[/name]–not a fan. [name]Elise[/name] has just never sounded well to me
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Mae[/name]–I agree with your dh. [name]Sylvie[/name] has an old-fashioned feel, which is good. [name]Mae[/name] takes it too far over.
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Jane[/name]–also not inspired…[name]Anne[/name] wins over this
[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Cecile[/name]–I don’t like the repeated sibilants.

[name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Camille[/name]–I think this is my favorite.

I’m not usually a fan of smush names or made-up names, but to honor both your moms, I can see Annaline/Annelynn. Also, [name]Anne[/name] means grace. So [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Grace[/name] might be a good choice.

12

Thanks - helpful, and glad I’m not alone on [name]Sylvie[/name]/[name]Silvia[/name]! You’re right, [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] does really run together. [name]Eden[/name] and [name]Juno[/name] are intriguing options for middles - DH has always liked [name]Juno[/name], so that might be for him!

13

[name]Sylvie[/name] is GORGEOUS.

As far as middle names go, [name]Sylvie[/name] [name]Anne[/name] [name]Robinson[/name] is lovely. Not only can you carry through your Mother’s name to your daughter’s, but it is perfect if you pay mind to the syllables of her name (2-1-3). And [name]Sylvie[/name] fits nicely with your other girls’ names.

[name]Hope[/name] your husband likes it!

14

Thanks all, for the responses! I’m trying to get the hang of this forum posting thing (newbie!), and can’t figure out if/how it’s possible to directly respond to one/each of your posts (w/out quoting, and/or having it go to the bottom of the thread as a new reply) - can anyone help/explain, as I tried hitting the ‘Reply’ below a specific response, and it kicks it to the bottom of the thread as a new post, and I couldn’t find info. in the Forum FAQs… is it not possible?

15

That is interesting - the Canadian vs. US difference in popularity! I guess it must be the French influence there… I guess that explains the appeal for each of us of the variation that is more unique - thanks for that insight! (My husband lived from age 2-12 in Toronto - I’ll have to ask him if he remembers many Sylvies…)

16

Thanks for the opinions - glad you think [name]Sylvie[/name] is still worth considering (and that we’re not alone on the [name]Sylvia[/name] distinction)! Good point on [name]Anne[/name] - it does really run together as a middle - good to ponder. [name]Eden[/name] and [name]Juno[/name] are intriguing alternatives - DH has always liked [name]Juno[/name], so maybe that will be for him!

17

Interesting idea, to do the combo - [name]Sylvia[/name] - [name]Anne[/name]! [name]Will[/name] have to think about that one; you’re right, it does make it more substantial. Thanks for feedback on spelling - I think you’re right, the Y does add a different quality to the name, making it seem to me a more distinct name /variant, vs. just a nickname. Wouldn’t have thought of it that way, but good point! Another reason to stick w/ the Y! And [name]Fay[/name] / [name]Fae[/name] - that might have to be another to consider for a middle!

18

Oh, so glad you think [name]Sylvie[/name] works with the sib names - reassuring! Also, love hearing about the [name]Tasha[/name] [name]Tudor[/name] books - would love to check them out! All I’d come across for literary reference was that L.[name]Carroll[/name] had a children’s story with a fairy named [name]Sylvie[/name], which I loved the idea of (although I haven’t read it). Thanks for that heads up!

19

Good to hear the perspective on multi-syllabic middle names - will have to consider more of those (vs. me thinking I should automatically go short, w/ [name]Robinson[/name])! And I appreciate the analysis of how it fits w/ sibling names - you’re good at this name thing (and I’m glad you think they work well together)! Now I’ve got real justification if my husband needs some convincing. :slight_smile:

20

Ooh, glad you weighed in on the adulthood question - I was wondering about that - happy to hear you think it transfers well for child/adult!