Sylvia

#300 for girls in 2025, 1,017 births · Last seen for boys in 1992 at #8,435
Given to girls 99.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · girls
1937 · 4,371 births
Debut · girls
81 births
In top 100 · girls
36 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · girls
245,070
since 1880

Sylvia over time

girls

Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201919peak #50, 1937girls
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#3001,017—
2024#361868—
2023#427724—
2022#437720—
2021#465673—
2020#501606—
2019#510616—
2018#492633—
2017#482647—
2016#502622—
2015#484662—
2014#490638—
2013#507594—
2012#525578—
2011#550531—
2010#557525—
2009#548555—
2008#554556—
2007#532588—
2006#520581—
2005#528547—
2004#556513—
2003#550504—
2002#513535—
2001#517519—
2000#496542—
1999#482539—
1998#468553—
1997#484518—
1996#452553—
1995#436589—
1994#423593—
1993#372685—
1992#361711#8,4355
1991#322831—
1990#334818#8,1175
1989#319799#5,6158
1988#290856#5,2008
1987#285863#4,9688
1986#280879#5,3327
1985#271931#5,1477
1984#2481,003#3,27013
1983#2381,038#5,4846
1982#254984#4,5938
1981#2471,008#5,4686
1980#264962#4,9407
1979#2471,016#6,0565
1978#251947#5,0596
1977#255982#4,1648
1976#2281,057#5,5875
1975#2151,143#3,6599
1974#1891,353#3,5589
1973#1921,347—
1972#1941,465#4,9865
1971#1941,577#2,97311
1970#1891,727#3,07110
1969#1781,814#2,41513
1968#1641,963#2,57611
1967#1562,214#2,35212
1966#1462,411#3,5376
1965#1312,960#2,27013
1964#1362,945#2,54611
1963#1283,280#2,41412
1962#1313,458#1,80520
1961#1243,752#1,77821
1960#1213,824#2,68510
1959#1203,853#1,91618
1958#1144,156#2,37012
1957#1094,310#1,71522
1956#1084,145#2,9698
1955#1074,003#2,30212
1954#1014,083#2,7439
1953#1013,812#3,1437
1952#993,789#2,8758
1951#973,777#2,49510
1950#973,612#2,43810
1949#943,816#2,6069
1948#1003,671#2,6089
1947#974,100#1,91616
1946#824,093#2,03013
1945#833,375#2,13111
1944#833,292#1,81015
1943#773,623#1,69918
1942#723,728#2,9407
1941#653,788#1,75916
1940#623,802#1,51920
1939#623,870#1,42522
1938#564,259#1,97613
1937#504,371#1,62718
1936#534,156#1,35624
1935#603,620#1,58419
1934#703,475#1,78316
1933#842,935#1,99713
1932#962,568#1,84816
1931#1231,927#2,20712
1930#1321,830#2,44411
1929#1192,037#1,93316
1928#1192,222#2,04815
1927#1162,347#2,9129
1926#1072,528#1,98116
1925#1062,537#1,93517
1924#1042,757#3,5057
1923#982,838#2,22414
1922#942,961#3,5327
1921#883,297#1,90418
1920#853,317#4,2865
1919#773,412#3,3917
1918#713,675#3,0968
1917#693,469#2,28012
1916#683,414#2,9268
1915#673,284#2,8298
1914#702,565#1,77213
1913#722,013#1,9459
1912#771,639#1,7469
1911#821,184—
1910#921,000—
1909#93847—
1908#101748—
1907#109611#1,2006
1906#107617#1,2535
1905#120528—
1904#118497—
1903#120464—
1902#136411—
1901#129390—
1900#136446—
1899#130371—
1898#132391—
1897#135357—
1896#140340—
1895#157276—
1894#152288—
1893#144286—
1892#149275—
1891#155218—
1890#158223—
1889#177166—
1888#174166—
1887#173135—
1886#167137—
1885#173112—
1884#19987—
1883#19079—
1882#17879—
1881#18567—
1880#16181—
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Sylvia was already there! It came in at #161, and was given to 81 baby girls.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1884, when fewer than 88 girls a year got the name.

Where Sylvia is popular in 1919

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedAKMaine: #98 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 351 girlsMEVermont: #91 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 307 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #77 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 264 girlsNHWashington: #89 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 358 girlsWAIdaho: #187 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 827 girlsIDMontana: #88 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 318 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #102 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 395 girlsNDMinnesota: #57 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 212 girlsMNIllinois: #80 for girls · 177 births · 1 in 322 girlsILWisconsin: #51 for girls · 120 births · 1 in 190 girlsWIMichigan: #98 for girls · 86 births · 1 in 394 girlsMINew York: #19 for girls · 1,083 births · 1 in 88 girlsNYMassachusetts: #59 for girls · 136 births · 1 in 255 girlsMARhode Island: #100 for girls · 13 births · 1 in 401 girlsRIOregon: #86 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 294 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNVWyoming: #81 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 235 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #58 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 207 girlsSDIowa: #99 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 419 girlsIAIndiana: #116 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 592 girlsINOhio: #93 for girls · 116 births · 1 in 434 girlsOHPennsylvania: #71 for girls · 280 births · 1 in 333 girlsPANew Jersey: #53 for girls · 127 births · 1 in 241 girlsNJConnecticut: #58 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 222 girlsCTCalifornia: #103 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 423 girlsCAUtah: #117 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 428 girlsUTColorado: #91 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 351 girlsCONebraska: #72 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 278 girlsNEMissouri: #86 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 358 girlsMOKentucky: #130 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 575 girlsKYWest Virginia: #66 for girls · 66 births · 1 in 254 girlsWVVirginia: #128 for girls · 49 births · 1 in 560 girlsVAMaryland: #56 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 225 girlsMDDelaware: #94 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 415 girlsDEArizona: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: #178 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 649 girlsNMKansas: #117 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 533 girlsKSArkansas: #158 for girls · 32 births · 1 in 634 girlsARTennessee: #141 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 602 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #197 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 1,201 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #189 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,183 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #47 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 175 girlsDCOklahoma: #87 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 342 girlsOKLouisiana: #187 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 836 girlsLAMississippi: #209 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,151 girlsMSAlabama: #175 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 934 girlsALGeorgia: #243 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,688 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedHITexas: #192 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 823 girlsTXFlorida: #187 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 843 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. New York#19 · 1 in 88
  2. District of Columbia#47 · 1 in 175
  3. Wisconsin#51 · 1 in 190
  4. New Jersey#53 · 1 in 241
  5. Maryland#56 · 1 in 225

Best ever in a state: #16 in New York, 1913.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
New York#191,0831 in 88
District of Columbia#47171 in 175
Wisconsin#511201 in 190
New Jersey#531271 in 241
Maryland#56621 in 225
Minnesota#571011 in 212
Connecticut#58611 in 222
South Dakota#58301 in 207
Massachusetts#591361 in 255
West Virginia#66661 in 254
Pennsylvania#712801 in 333
Nebraska#72421 in 278
New Hampshire#77121 in 264
Illinois#801771 in 322
Wyoming#8161 in 235
Missouri#86811 in 358
Oregon#86181 in 294
Oklahoma#87651 in 342
Montana#88171 in 318
Washington#89271 in 358
Colorado#91221 in 351
Vermont#9181 in 307
Ohio#931161 in 434
Delaware#9451 in 415
Maine#98171 in 351
Michigan#98861 in 394
Iowa#99491 in 419
Rhode Island#100131 in 401
North Dakota#102181 in 395
California#103551 in 423
Indiana#116411 in 592
Kansas#117291 in 533
Utah#117111 in 428
Virginia#128491 in 560
Kentucky#130471 in 575
Tennessee#141431 in 602
Arkansas#158321 in 634
Alabama#175331 in 934
New Mexico#17851 in 649
Florida#187121 in 843
Idaho#18751 in 827
Louisiana#187261 in 836
South Carolina#189201 in 1,183
Texas#192631 in 823
North Carolina#197301 in 1,201
Mississippi#209191 in 1,151
Georgia#243221 in 1,688
Alaska———
Arizona———
Hawaii———
Nevada———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the girls born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Sylvia
Momentum · girls
Rising
  • 61 spots since 2024 (#361 → #300)
  • 201 spots since 2020 (#501 → #300)
  • 184 spots since 2015 (#484 → #300)
  • Biggest jump: 66 spots in 2024 (#427 → #361)
  • Biggest drop: 51 spots in 1994 (#372 → #423)
Rise & fade · girls
57 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1937 at #50 (4,371 births)
  • Births halved by 1968, 31 yrs later
Top of the charts · girls
Top 100 for 36 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 36 yrs · run 1932–1952
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · girls
1 in 243
  • Highest: 1 in 243 girls born in 1937 were named Sylvia (0.41%)
  • Latest: 1 in 1,580 girls born in 2025 (0.06%)
Era · girls
The 1950s
  • 16.1% of all girls named Sylvia (39,540) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,109#161 (1880)#178
1890s3,025#130 (1899)#145
1900s5,559#93 (1909)#117
1910s25,655#67 (1915)#75
1920s26,841#85 (1920)#104
1930s33,011#50 (1937)#79
1940s37,288#62 (1940)#82
1950s39,540#97 (1951)#105
1960s28,621#121 (1960)#142
1970s12,614#189 (1970)#215
1980s9,323#238 (1983)#270
1990s6,390#322 (1991)#413
2000s5,440#496 (2000)#531
2010s6,046#482 (2017)#510
2020s4,608#300 (2025)#415

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 girls in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Sylvia in 1919

girls
#77
3,412 births · 1 in 331 girls
boys
#3,391
7 births · 1 in 140,017 boys

Top girls' names in 1919

  1. #1Mary65,836
  2. #2Helen33,706
  3. #3Dorothy31,733
  4. #4Margaret26,238
  5. #5Ruth24,562
  6. #6Mildred17,300
  7. #7Virginia15,636
  8. #8Elizabeth15,287
  9. #9Frances15,106
  10. #10Anna14,498
  11. #77Sylvia3,412

Top boys' names in 1919

  1. #1John53,522
  2. #2William43,969
  3. #3James42,392
  4. #4Robert41,025
  5. #5Charles25,192
  6. #6George25,170
  7. #7Joseph24,266
  8. #8Edward18,536
  9. #9Frank15,701
  10. #10Thomas13,434
  11. #3,391Sylvia7
More about 1919

girls

1,130,117 girls got a published name in 1919; 1 in 331 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.6% of the 5,559 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.0% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #74Violet3,597
  2. #75Jessie3,530
  3. #76Alma3,438
  4. #77Sylvia3,412
  5. #78Mabel3,405
  6. #79Charlotte3,353
  7. #80Minnie3,272
Biggest movers since 1918
Risers
  1. ↑ 851Gregoria#1,805 → #954
  2. ↑ 443Concha#1,333 → #890
  3. ↑ 390Arlena#1,299 → #909
  4. ↑ 353Marina#1,255 → #902
  5. ↑ 333Roselle#1,333 → #1,000
Fallers
  1. ↓ 1,019Liberty#585 → #1,604
  2. ↓ 840Victory#809 → #1,649
  3. ↓ 567Karen#960 → #1,527
  4. ↓ 404Zena#989 → #1,393
  5. ↓ 359Malvina#989 → #1,348

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

980,122 boys got a published name in 1919; 1 in 140,017 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 29.5% of the 4,810 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 30.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #3,115Wirt8
  2. #3,115Ysabel8
  3. #3,115Zachariah8
  4. #3,391Sylvia7
  5. #3,391Abb7
  6. #3,391Adalberto7
  7. #3,391Agee7
  8. #3,736Achilles6
  9. #3,736Ade6
  10. #3,736Akio6

Tied with 344 names at #3,391; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1918
Risers
  1. ↑ 446Quinten#1,313 → #867
  2. ↑ 432Dempsey#1,012 → #580
  3. ↑ 341Winton#1,231 → #890
  4. ↑ 334Donnie#1,211 → #877
  5. ↑ 332Edsel#1,062 → #730
Fallers
  1. ↓ 2,008Foch#869 → #2,877
  2. ↓ 582Carmel#949 → #1,531
  3. ↓ 403Eligah#918 → #1,321
  4. ↓ 398Nels#809 → #1,207
  5. ↓ 355Myer#966 → #1,321

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1919 →