Is [name]Sylvia[/name] a middle-aged woman’s name, along the lines of [name]Brenda[/name] and [name]Barbara[/name], or is it vintage? According to the charts, it peaked once in the 1910s and again around the early 1940s. Nameberry describes a [name]Sylvia[/name] as being middle-aged or older. Older is good, but middle-aged is not. I pictured [name]Sylvia[/name] being a late-1800s name, and I liked it as such, but now I’m rethinking it. [name]How[/name] do you view [name]Sylvia[/name]?
I like [name]Sylvia[/name]. I don’t know any adult women named it, and being a teen I’ve never met one near my age. I think it is a lovely name that will age well and has a classic feel. The nicknames [name]Silly[/name], [name]Sylvie[/name] and [name]Via[/name] modernize it.
This was my grandmothers middle name and I seriously considered using it for this baby. I think it’s definitely vintage and classy it just gives me an old lady vibe that’s different than other classic vintage names that’s rubbing me the wrong way. I love [name]Sylvie[/name] as a nn though! I would say its more older than middle aged. Besides my grandmother the only other person I know with the name is early 30’s.
[name]Sylvia[/name] is one of those names that I really think could work on any age. I’ve only met one [name]Sylvia[/name] in my whole life (in highschool) so she would now be 22/23.
I love [name]Sylvia[/name], but I love [name]Sylvie[/name] even more (I guess I have always liked [name]Sophie[/name] more than [name]Sophia[/name], too). But to answer your question, I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is more vintage than dated. It also reminds me a lot of [name]Lydia[/name] and [name]Evelyn[/name], which are being used more now.
I think it falls with [name]Alice[/name], [name]Matilda[/name], and [name]Ethel[/name] as a kind of refreshing vintage. I [name]LOVE[/name] nickname [name]Sylvie[/name], and would definetly consider using [name]Sylvia[/name] for a daughter then have her go exclusively by nn [name]Sylvie[/name]
[name]Sylvie[/name] is actually the French variant of [name]Sylvia[/name], so you could just give a daughter the name [name]Sylvie[/name] if that’s what you love. It wouldn’t be like giving her a “nickname,” it would be giving her a full French name. 
Thanks for the feedback, everyone!
I love slyvie (and am like the other poster who has also always preferred sophie to [name]Sophia[/name]). I knew a slyvia in her thirties so the name doesn’t feel ‘old lady’ to me 
I love it. It is my great-Aunt’s name, and it is definitely in contention as a name for my LO. I agree with the above comments, [name]Sylvie[/name] is a fantastic alternative or nn to [name]Sylvia[/name]. I also agree that it is much more vintage than dated. I think there is a beautiful, feminine refinement to this name, and it has a special chic-ness that other vintage names lack.
I would add that I love this name because of its similarity to [name]Silver[/name], another possible nn to [name]Sylvia[/name].
Where I live [name]Sylvie[/name] is quite popular but I have never actually met a [name]Sylvia[/name]. The Sylvies I know are of all ages. To me [name]Sylvia[/name] sounds refreshing and uncommon. I wouldn’t consider it middle aged at all. [name]Sylvie[/name] sounds a little worn to me though. Like I said, it is super popular where I live.
I love [name]Sylvia[/name], especially with the nickname [name]Sylvie[/name]. I think it is thought of as older, but that’s just evidence that it’s time for it to be brought back. It’s very unique for a little girl in this day and age, which I see as a good thing. The nickname [name]Sylvie[/name] makes it sound a lot younger if that’s something you’re worried about.
I adore the name [name]Sylvia[/name]. I think it sounds sophisticated and charming, not frumpy, old-lady or dated at all. It would be cute on a little girl and age very well. I would love to meet a little [name]Sylvia[/name].
I would be classified as “middle-aged” and I don’t recall knowing any Sylvias my age. [name]Sylvia[/name] is a stunning name. I would use it in a heartbeat if I had a half-dozen daughters to name.
I like it, especially the spelling ‘[name]Silvia[/name]’. When I hear it, I picture an adult. Not necessarily middle-aged though.
Although I think [name]Sylvia[/name] is beautiful, I personally prefer [name]Sylvie[/name]. I don’t think [name]Sylvia[/name] is middle-aged at all, it’s a lovely name and I’d be thrilled to meet a little girl with it.