Sylvia

Meaning of Sylvia

Sylvia means "from the woods" or "spirit of the wood." It's related to the word "sylvan," which also refers to forests.

Sylvia has Latin roots — browse every Latin baby name in our catalog.

Popularity of Sylvia

Sylvia is more popular than ever, reaching a new high of #300 in 2025 from #497 in 2000.

Notable people named Sylvia

• Sylvia Plath
  American poet and novelist
• Sylvia Browne
  Self-proclaimed psychic
• Sylvia Sidney
  American actress
• Sylvia Earle
  Marine biologist and explorer
• Sylvia Fowles
  Professional basketball player

More Latin names

Questions about the name Sylvia

What does the name Sylvia mean?

Sylvia means sylvia means "from the woods" or "spirit of the wood." it's related to the word "sylvan," which also refers to forests, and it comes from Latin origins.

Is Sylvia a boy's or a girl's name?

Sylvia is most commonly used as a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is the name Sylvia?

In 2025, Sylvia ranked #300 for girls, up from #361 the year before.

When was Sylvia most popular?

Sylvia peaked at #300 in 2025.