I’ve had [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] on my girls list for quite a while but never really liked how it’s [name_f]French[/name_f] as we don’t have a drop of [name_f]French[/name_f] blood in us and my husband is from Scandinavia so finding a name that works in both languages is paramount with the bonus points if it’s actually a Scandinavian name itself. The problem with a lot of Norwegian/scandinavian names is that they don’t sound good in [name_f]English[/name_f] or sound different in [name_f]English[/name_f] than in Scandinavia! So it has been very hard trying to find a name we are happy with. I could go into labour any moment now so I’m trying to feel more at ease with our choices!
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I just saw today that The spelling “ [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] “ is of Scandinavian origin and means sun strength. I thought that is quite beautiful! [name_f]My[/name_f] son’s name is [name_m]Kasper[/name_m], do you think it goes together okay?
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I currently have [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] as one of the top girl names and still considering it, however the popularity is slightly putting me off as it seems to be going up in the charts here. I’ve definitely heard [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] before but it is not on the charts here which I like. Today was the first time I have heard of the Scandinavian spelling [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f]. [name_f][/name_f] are in Australia.
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Any thoughts on [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] and spelling it this way to honor our heritage? [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think it would be straightforward, or not? Does the name still look pretty to you this way?
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Also if you like the name would love middle name suggestions that are nature themed to match my sons, which is [name_f]Snow[/name_f].
I’ll be honest, if I saw [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] I would assume it was [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] spelled “wrong”. Maybe it’s my own ignorance though [name_f][/name_f][name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] is a [name_f]French[/name_f] name but I don’t think 98% of people will think about that or think that’s it’s weird in any way for a non [name_f]French[/name_f] speaker to use it. I say go for whichever spelling you like better, but I do prefer [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f].
Aw, [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] and [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] are so nice together! I love both of those names
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[name_f]Lumi[/name_f] comes to mind, but I think that goes better with [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] than [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f]. (Love [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] too, btw)
I think you (and later she) will probably always be explaining the spelling, but I imagine you already have to do that for [name_m]Kaspar[/name_m]? [name_f][/name_f] It pairs well with [name_m]Kaspar[/name_m] but I admit I prefer [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] to [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] for you. [name_f][/name_f] All are lovely options, but I feel like I hear [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] these days much more than [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], so [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] feel more fresh to me, and more naturally Scandinavian? [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] feels a lot like [name_m]Tobias[/name_m] or [name_f]Anna[/name_f] etc., which could belong to 20 different ethnic origins? [name_f][/name_f] But the spelling is fun and so is the meaning, and I do like her with [name_m]Kaspar[/name_m]. [name_f][/name_f] I am obsessed with [name_m]Kaspar[/name_m] and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f], though, as I think you know by now, so that is probably also impacting my opinion
Thanks so much! I actually never have to explain the spelling for [name_m]Kasper[/name_m]! I simply say [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] with a k. Our community does know we are Scandinavian though so we don’t get questioned much on it, even from strangers.
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I do love [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] and [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] too! [name_m]Just[/name_m] that it’s getting quite popular in the charts? Sylvie/sylvi is not in the charts at all here…. Which is nice as it would be more unique… but it’s really tough because I like both!
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With [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] I have had some people on another name forum say they first read it as [name_f]Tuna[/name_f], and that’s made me a little nervous about using it now, when there is no mental map of the name for people [name_f][/name_f] would it be that kids call her [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] [name_f]Tuna[/name_f]? Ha
Thanks- I guess it’s more just me that doesn’t like its [name_f]French[/name_f], not other people! Like choosing [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] when that is the Scandinavian spelling would obviously mean more to our family!
Although I do enjoy that [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] would give you that extra Scandinavian connection, I do lean more towards [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]. It’s much more natural, I think, but it also looks more complete. [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] and [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] make more sense to me than [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] and [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f]. FWIW, I know two Kaia’s and both are high school aged, I know no Sylvie’s.
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TLDR: I would likely go with [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] if I were you.
Oh no! [name_f][/name_f] What about Tove/Tova? [name_f][/name_f] I’m more familiar with it with an O vs. a U, does [name_f]Tova[/name_f] make it more usable?
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And I guess that’s fair, [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] I suspect will start to feel trendy here in the States because in the time it took for [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] to get to about 350 (1999-2015, 16 years), it took [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] only about 7 years to get that high. [name_f][/name_f] [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is currently higher but [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] is becoming popular at a much quicker rate. [name_f][/name_f] That doesn’t mean your country will do the same though!
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And oh yes, I just meant you might have to say “Sylvi with no E”? [name_f][/name_f] Sorry haha.
I definitely get what you are saying, I do like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] a bit more too however not sure I could get my husband on board with choosing [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] if it’s of [name_f]French[/name_f] origin as opposed to [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] which is the non [name_f]French[/name_f] version of the name [name_f][/name_f] he is directly from Scandinavia, and speaks to our son in his language so it’s not like it’s just a “Scandinavian root” if that makes sense at all ….. I guess what I’m asking is whether [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] is nice enough to use, compared to [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]
Unfortunately [name_f]Tova[/name_f] in my husbands language is pronounced [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f], so we can’t choose that as it will just be confusing for pronunciation in Australia and his family will still pronounce tova Tuva!!!
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I’ve made a bit of a pickle for myself with deciding
All of that is so valid! The only thing that I would say is worth considering, as a [name_f]Mollie[/name_f] (-ie not y), I’ve always had people misspelling my name, even family members who have known me from birth. It doesn’t happen often now, but when I was younger, it really bugged me that the people who should be familiar with my name didn’t spell it right. I would assume [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] might have the same problem (not with your husband’s family, as they would likely use the Scandinavian spelling anyhow), and that is just something to be cautious of. Then again, if it’s not a big deal to you, then it’s not a big deal. It’s just something I try to consider with my own names [name_f][/name_f]- that the spelling be intuitive. Also, I want to say, I love Kasper!! Such a gem of a name.
Having said I’d go [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] (because I prefer it to [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] and think it’s easier spelling), I think you have good reasons to use [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f]. [name_m]Kasper[/name_m] & [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is a little too matchy for me but could work too.
I like [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] [name_f][/name_f]- simple, sleek and pretty [name_f][/name_f]- and the -i ending appeals to me at least [name_f][/name_f] It might need spelling out somethings, but it’s fairly easy to explain (like Kasper)
Hi Greyblue- thanks for your input
I do like the spelling Sylvie but I can’t really say that it’s a Scandinavian name which is kind of what I was after ( ideally- if we found one that worked) where as if we spell it Sylvi it can be ? In saying that though , I know Kaia has many different origins, one of them is Scandinavian obviously but it’s also Maori , Hawaiian and Latin? ?
Do you know much about Kaia’s popularity compared to Sylvie on nameberry? I’m also worried Kaia might be too popular and thought I wanted something more unique but not weird , but I’m finding it tricky to find just how popular each name is ( edit : I found Kaia on the charts and it is number 35 in the country - is this high? )
I have to say I prefer [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] for you, especially since they both read as more recognisable Scandinavian names (although [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is my very favourite). I would’ve read [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] as an alternative spelling of [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and that spoils it a little for me because it feels modern rather than Scandinavian like you’re going for.
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Also, if I only heard [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] but did not see it written down, I would just assume it was the [name_f]French[/name_f] [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] anyway. So you would know it was the Scandinavian spelling but almost no one else would unless you told them. Would that bother you?
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I hear [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] on nameberry all the time and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] only occasionally. On nameberry’s most searched names list, [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] comes in at #70[name_f][/name_f] and [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] is at #114[name_f][/name_f] which surprises me because I would’ve thought [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] was higher since it seems to be on everyone’s list.
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In the latest baby name report that just came out earlier this month from McCrindle, [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] ranks #85[name_f][/name_f] in Australia, up from #93[name_f][/name_f] the year before. So I would say that it’s familiar but not popular. At #85[name_f][/name_f] there were 213 babies named [name_f]Kaia[/name_f] across Australia in 2024 – so the odds of meeting another born in the same year are quite low. Compare that to [name_f]Charlotte[/name_f] at #1[name_f][/name_f] where there were 1,330 babies named in 2024.
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[name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] and [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] remind me of [name_f]Ylva[/name_f], [name_f]Alva[/name_f], [name_f]Runa[/name_f], [name_f]Juni[/name_f] and [name_f]Signy[/name_f] if any of those appeal to you.
Yeah, Kaia is one of those very multicultural choices - a form of Katherine (which has Greek and Latin origins) and potentially a form of Hawaiian Kai - and occasionally a variant of Gaia too
Still, i think the Scandinavian associations are fairly strong imo!
Same with Sylvi. It reminds me of Katri, Suvi, and Heidi which have thay same Scandinavian feel.
In terms of Kaias popularity, where did you find it ranked at 35? In Australia, its at #73 (90 babies) whereas Sylvie is outside the Top 100. To put that in perspective, Kaia ranks similarly to Rosie, Lucia, Pippa, Eva, and Elodie for girls and Riley, Jackson and Billy for boys. If it’s easier to think in terms of the kids born the same year as Kasper, it’s as popular as Addison, Phoebe, Piper, and Imogen, Angus, Aiden and Asher.
As for NB popularity, I certainly see Sylvie more on the forums, though Kaia comes up too and currently has more ‘real life’ popularity. I will say I’ve met more people/children called Kaia (Kaiya, Kaja, or Kaya) than Sylvie (Sylvia, Silvia, or Sylvi)
I think Sylvie is popular enough outside of France (it ranks in the British Top 300 and the only Sylvie I’ve ever known was British!) that you don’t necessarily need French heritage to use it. That said, I really like Sylvi! It looks cute and the connection to your family history is sweet. I’d go for it.
Maybe Sylvi June, Sylvi Clementine, Sylvi Rosalie, Sylvi Autumn, Sylvi Pearl, Sylvi Primrose, Sylvi Acacia, Sylvi Rue to match your son’s middle.
[name_f][/name_f] would it be that kids call her [name_f]Tuva[/name_f] [name_f]Tuna[/name_f]? Ha
[name_f][/name_f] he is directly from Scandinavia, and speaks to our son in his language so it’s not like it’s just a “Scandinavian root” if that makes sense at all ….. I guess what I’m asking is whether [name_f]Sylvi[/name_f] is nice enough to use, compared to [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] 
[name_f][/name_f] It might need spelling out somethings, but it’s fairly easy to explain (like Kasper)
