See the results of this poll: Sylvia vs Silvia
Respondents: 48 (This poll is closed)
- Sylvia : 39 (81%)
- Silvia: 9 (19%)
In an English speaking country, I’d go with [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] since it’s the spelling most people are familiar with. [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] would work in Europe, I think. [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] may be ‘slightly different’ but if [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] was mega popular, it would just cause headaches (sort of like [name_f]Sophia[/name_f] and [name_f]Sofia[/name_f]).
I prefer [name_f]Silvia[/name_f], the original Latin spelling. I think it looks better, though [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] isn’t that bad.
While I’d usually prefer to spell a name without Y, I like [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] with it better. It just looks more pretty to me.
Not to ruin [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] for you too, but someone once commented that they always see ‘saliva’ when they first glimpse [name_f]Silvia[/name_f]. I already preferred the look of [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], but that sealed the deal for me.
I like both though I’d automatically spell it [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]. I think I like that the ‘y’ and ‘v’ balance.
I prefer [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], agree that the Y and V balance each other! Plus I’m less likely to see ‘sliver’ in the Y spelling.
Although the [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] spelling is the usual English spelling, [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] is the original spelling. I usually go for the more familiar [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] because it’s what I’m used to seeing in my neck of the woods but [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] is growing on me. Personally, I think it all depends on the last name.
If your surname contains the hanging consonants of y, g, j, p or q, then the more stream-lined [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] would look best written out of the page. [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] may look cluttered.
If your surname does NOT contain these letters, [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] would be bettter option to break up the straight line.
This. When I see [name_f]Silvia[/name_f], I think of “saliva”. 
I deff prefer [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]!
I like Sylvanie (found it in an early chapter of [name_m]Hugo[/name_m]'s [name_u]Les[/name_u] Miserables).
I know [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] is the more common spelling, but I’d go [name_f]Silvia[/name_f].
It looks prettier to me and it’s both the original and Shakespearean spelling, so, you know.
It depends on how you say it. [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] is mainly used in other countries, like [name_f]Italy[/name_f], and pronounced seel-vee-uh, while [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] is more English and pronounced sill-vee-uh.
Thanks for all the thoughtful responses, everyone!
Casilda – good point about the familiarity/spelling thing. I hadn’t really thought of that!
[name_f]Polina[/name_f] - [name_f]Glad[/name_f] to hear that [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] looks pretty to you! I might just have looked at the name a few too many times
Emsky – Haha I hadn’t even thought of that! Thanks so much for pointing it out. Wow, definitely something to take into account. [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]’s starting to look like the better (or at least more practical) option 
Renrose - thanks for helping to put my mind at ease about the y spelling. I’m starting to see it as more harmonious now, I hadn’t considered the y and v together the way you did.
Anotherkate – thanks for posting, it’s good to see agreement about the y spelling being balanced and symmetrical
[name_u]Mischa[/name_u] – Hey, what a great rule of thumb! My surname doesn’t contain y,g,j,p, or q, so [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] would look best. You’ve really helped point me towards the better choice for me, thanks so much!
Fanciful – Gosh, until you and emsky posted that [name_f]Silvia[/name_f] could look like ‘saliva’, I didn’t see it at all. I’m glad that it’s been pointed out - I’d so much rather look at a nice name differently than to unwittingly give someone a name that looked like a synonym for spit!
Rkrd – Sylvanie is so pretty, thanks for suggesting it. It’s such a gorgeous alternative to [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]/[name_f]Silvia[/name_f], and I like that it’s got familiar sounds but doesn’t look set to take off in popularity the way [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] probably will. Plus, I love [name_u]Les[/name_u] Miserables : )
Oliviasarah – [name_m]Even[/name_m] though pretty much everyone else has made a great case for [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], I still have a soft spot for [name_f]Silvia[/name_f]. It just looks so lovely to me! I love that it’s the older version as well. Perhaps I’ll just have to put it on my gp list 
Cristinamariane – Oh, I didn’t know that, I thought they were both pronounced sil-vee-uh. Thanks for letting me know, how embarrassing if I’d said it out loud! I think in that case I prefer [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f], so thankyou for helping me decide
Thanks for your input, berries After reading through everyone’s responses, I’ve decided [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f]'s more practical, and looks nicer with my surname. [name_f]Silvia[/name_f]'s still a name I like, but [name_f]Sylvia[/name_f] seems right for me.