So I’ve long loved [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f], the [name_m]French[/name_m] form of [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]. However I have had some qualms in that it does sound rather diminutive and cutesy and almost more as a nickname for [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] or [name_f]Sylvana[/name_f], and I’ve often wondered how well it would wear on an older person as a full name.
I recently discovered Sylvi. I realise it’s not that different to [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and all, but something about it strikes me as slightly more grown up and less like a nickname. It makes me want to change the emphasis of the name so it’s more like “Syl-[name_f]VI[/name_f]” with a slightly clipped “ee” as opposed to [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]'s slightly softer “Syll-vee” if that makes sense. According to Behindthename, it is pronounced “Suyl-vee” so even the inital “Syl” is pronounced a bit differently to [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]'s “[name_m]SIL[/name_m]-vee”.
However I realise that it may also come across as a yooneek spelling since Sylvi is not a common name in the States. Sylvi is the Norwegian variant of [name_f]Solveig[/name_f] and shares it’s meaning of “sun strength” (which I think is beautiful), rather than [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]'s “forest” so it is a name in it’s own right rather than a variant of [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]. But I know most people wont realize that. So I’m asking, what do you all think of Sylvi? Without knowing it’s background would you assume it’s just a tacky yooneek spelling of [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]? Would you pronounce it any differently?
Thanks! 
I’m sorry, it looks tacky to me…
Like, you know those parents who spelled [name_f]Wendy[/name_f] as [name_f]Wendi[/name_f]? That’s the kind of vibe it gives me.
I love both [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] and [name_f]Solveig[/name_f] (though one is clearly more usable than the other), but Sylvi isn’t for me.
[name_f]Soleil[/name_f] also sounds kind of similar.
I think it looks like an alternative spelling. I wouldn’t think to change the pronunciation either so I’d just say it like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f]. I don’t think it looks terrible but I’m not sure the spelling troubles would be worth it.
I can’t say that I really like it. It does feel like a [name_f]Wendy[/name_f]/[name_f]Wendi[/name_f] or [name_f]Brandy[/name_f]/[name_f]Brandi[/name_f] kind of thing, very 70s/80s.
Knowing that it comes from [name_f]Solveig[/name_f] makes me want to encourage you to use [name_f]Solveig[/name_f]! If Sylvi can be a nickname for it, why not? I don’t think the pronunciation would be hard to grasp, and I might assume that she had some Scandinavian roots, but if I saw it on paper, it would feel like someone trying to be yooneek.
I love the name, but I like [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f] with the E!
It looks unfinished to me, and I have the urge to add an e. I warm up a bit to it after I read that it’s Norwegian and not actually made up, but between two names, I still opt for [name_f]Sylvie[/name_f].
I’m Norwegian so I’m used to the Sylvi spelling, but honestly it feels incomplete in English.
[name_f]Solveig[/name_f] is also a name from my country, and for me it’s weird that a non-Scandinavian would use it. I don’t think it’s unusable, but I would definitely assume you were Norwegian or have roots there.
Thanks for your responses everyone! More or less what I thought, that Sylvi would look incomplete to most people. Thanks for the feedback! And @cl0udberry, yes both myself and my husband have strong Norwegian roots (and Danish for me too and my maiden name is Danish).