…but what are everyone’s thoughts on [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] for a girl? I’m not typically a fan of boy names on girls, but [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is also a word name and aren’t word names really more androgynous? I love the meaning and sound of [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] and I feel that it goes well with my kids’ names, [name_m]Benton[/name_m] [name_m]Grover[/name_m] and [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f]. It fits into [name_m]Benton[/name_m]'s nature/tree theme and [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]'s Elvish/Tolkien theme and kind of ties them all together. My husband doesn’t like it for a boy (and I tend to agree with him), but really likes it for a girl. This is the first name for a girl we’ve both loved equally so far. We’re not fans of [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] sounds too nickname-ish to me to put on a birth certificate. [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] nn [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] I love though. Thoughts? Middle name suggestions?
I like it! I think [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] nn [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] would be so sweet. I think it fits great with your other children already. I would suggest going for a feminine middle name.
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]May[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Blythe[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Claire[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Juliette[/name_f]
Sorry if these aren’t exactly your style.
I have mixed feelings about this name because there is a learning center in my area that goes by [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m], so I associate it more with a place than as a name. As far as word names being androgynous it really depends on a lot of factors, not just it being a word name. That being said, when I hear the name I don’t think of it being male or female. So I think it could work for both and the nn [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] would work well on it being a girl name or lending itself to a girl a bit more. I think a feminine middle would go well with it and match your daughters name quite well since [name_f]Arwen[/name_f] doesn’t sound overly feminine and frilly. Obviously you and your husbands opinions on it are the only ones that matter in the end 
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Eliza[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Anastasia[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Alexandra[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Lucille[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Josephine[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Victoria[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Katerina[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Noelle[/name_f]
Sorry if these are totally off the mark, maybe they’ll give you some ideas?
Yay! I’m glad you do @abbynh. I was cringing waiting on a barrage of hate. lol You definitely have captured our style in the middle names too. I like [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Juliette[/name_f], but have a niece named [name_f]Juliet[/name_f]. My own name is [name_f]Cathryn[/name_f], so [name_f]Katherine[/name_f] is a no. I know my husband won’t go for [name_f]Violet[/name_f], [name_f]May[/name_f], or [name_f]Pearl[/name_f], but [name_f]Blythe[/name_f] and [name_f]Claire[/name_f] are definite possibilities. They’re going on the list! Thanks!
I’m not a huge fan, [name_f]Sylva[/name_f], [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] or [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] are all so lovely and feminine. What about [name_u]Silver[/name_u]? It might be a bit out there, but it’s a word name and has a lovely sound.
@trippindippy, [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Eloise[/name_f] and [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Lucille[/name_f] are adorable! I like [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Rosalie[/name_f] too, but really hate the association with Twilight. My husband and I both actually like [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Rose[/name_f], but I have some qualms with it. [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is so over used in the middle, but then so is [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] and that’s [name_f]Arwen[/name_f]'s middle. I’m also not too big on two word names together. [name_f]Rose[/name_f] is special to both of us though. It’s a family name on his side and it’s been on my list since I started loving names which was many many years ago. I had two baby dolls with it in their names. lol
The link to the learning center isn’t that big of a deal to me even though [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] Learning Centers are all over. At least it’s not the name of a prescription drug or something. The learning center isn’t a good association, but it’s not a negative one either I don’t think.
Thanks for your input!
I love it so much, I wish I had thought of it myself! [name_u]Love[/name_u] the sound, meaning, everything about it. I also think it’s rare enough that there wouldn’t be a whole lot of controversy around the gender issue. I think that [name_m]Sylvain[/name_m] is a relatively popular male name in [name_m]French[/name_m] speaking countries, but not sure how often [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is used.
Go for it! It’s such a great choice.
I actually do think it could work. [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is not a very common name at all so I think a lot of people won’t strongly associate it with either gender. It seems to fit with your other kids names and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] is a nice nickname.
Thank you @sanguine_sparrow and jtay07!
@ciottolo, feminine and lovely aren’t really our style. Those other names are pretty, but too frilly for me. [name_u]Silver[/name_u] is interesting and definitely more our style, but I can’t see an older lady appreciating being called [name_u]Silver[/name_u]. It also makes me think “hi ho [name_u]Silver[/name_u]!” lol
I went to high school with a girl name [name_u]Sullivan[/name_u], and she wore it really well. [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is a nice name! I could see it as unisex
Thanks @csd267!
It could definitely work.
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Elodie[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Isadora[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Aura[/name_f]/[name_f]Aurora[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Ottilie[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Junia[/name_f]/[name_u]June[/name_u]/[name_f]Juno[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Elsa[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Violet[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Valentina[/name_f]/[name_u]Valentine[/name_u]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Isla[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Minerva[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Flavia[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Eudora[/name_f]
[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_u]Wren[/name_u]
I’m loving [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Minerva[/name_f] and [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Eudora[/name_f] @alchemicallypurplefairy! I doubt my husband will agree to them, but they’re awesome! He’ll like [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Amelia[/name_f] and [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] [name_f]Rosalind[/name_f] though. Thank you!
You know there is the [name_f]Sylvaine[/name_f] french female version of that name?
I did know that @lena86. I’m seeing different pronunciations for it though and it just kind of confuses me to be totally honest. My husband likes [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] better anyway and he has to like the name as much as I do for us to use it.
I think it works. [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] is not a common name for boys, so it doesn’t feel like using [name_m]Thomas[/name_m] or [name_m]Edward[/name_m] or something, especially as it sounds close to [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f].
Thanks @maggiefromcanada! Those are my thoughts as well.
What about [name_f]Sylvana[/name_f]? It’s a feminization of [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] and it’s a gorgeous name. That said, [name_m]Sylvan[/name_m] for a girl fits with names like [name_u]Sawyer[/name_u] and [name_u]Hayden[/name_u], which are used for boys and girls now.
I’ve never understood the logic of not liking a boys name for a boy but thinking it’s smashing for a girl. It’s the same name, isn’t it? [name_f]Sylvaine[/name_f] or [name_f]Sylvana[/name_f] would be the feminine versions of the MALE names [name_m]Silvanus[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvanus[/name_m]/[name_m]Sylvan[/name_m]. If you’re going to call her [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], why not use that name? It’s a legitimate girls name in [name_f]France[/name_f].
I love [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]/[name_f]Silvia[/name_f], so I think it’s great. It reads like an adjective/ word/ nature name to me, because of the word silvan or sylvan. It feels usable, like [name_u]River[/name_u], [name_u]Aspen[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], [name_u]Robin[/name_u] on the unisex side, or [name_f]Lark[/name_f], [name_u]Sky[/name_u], [name_f]Ivy[/name_f], etc on the girl side.