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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201934peak #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 1934

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedAKMaine: #27 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 105 girlsMEVermont: #38 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 119 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #43 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 123 girlsNHWashington: #52 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 229 girlsWAIdaho: #101 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 376 girlsIDMontana: #84 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 297 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #52 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 188 girlsNDMinnesota: #78 for girls · 58 births · 1 in 328 girlsMNIllinois: #76 for girls · 167 births · 1 in 296 girlsILWisconsin: #62 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 274 girlsWIMichigan: #74 for girls · 113 births · 1 in 324 girlsMINew York: #58 for girls · 379 births · 1 in 218 girlsNYMassachusetts: #61 for girls · 133 births · 1 in 210 girlsMARhode Island: #65 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 242 girlsRIOregon: #70 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 264 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNVWyoming: #49 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 179 girlsWYSouth Dakota: #78 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 273 girlsSDIowa: #105 for girls · 35 births · 1 in 517 girlsIAIndiana: #97 for girls · 47 births · 1 in 477 girlsINOhio: #78 for girls · 134 births · 1 in 336 girlsOHPennsylvania: #61 for girls · 317 births · 1 in 224 girlsPANew Jersey: #85 for girls · 65 births · 1 in 364 girlsNJConnecticut: #66 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 237 girlsCTCalifornia: #54 for girls · 147 births · 1 in 233 girlsCAUtah: #96 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 367 girlsUTColorado: #45 for girls · 41 births · 1 in 193 girlsCONebraska: #110 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 487 girlsNEMissouri: #63 for girls · 85 births · 1 in 318 girlsMOKentucky: #74 for girls · 87 births · 1 in 314 girlsKYWest Virginia: #51 for girls · 85 births · 1 in 215 girlsWVVirginia: #55 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 234 girlsVAMaryland: #51 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 209 girlsMDDelaware: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedDEArizona: #32 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 154 girlsAZNew Mexico: #80 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 274 girlsNMKansas: #69 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 306 girlsKSArkansas: #78 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 341 girlsARTennessee: #78 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 339 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #73 for girls · 126 births · 1 in 289 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #93 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 392 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #51 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 198 girlsDCOklahoma: #66 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 323 girlsOKLouisiana: #52 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 212 girlsLAMississippi: #100 for girls · 56 births · 1 in 381 girlsMSAlabama: #116 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 489 girlsALGeorgia: #112 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 452 girlsGAHawaii: #45 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 149 girlsHITexas: #73 for girls · 158 births · 1 in 362 girlsTXFlorida: #36 for girls · 67 births · 1 in 174 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Maine#27 · 1 in 105
  2. Arizona#32 · 1 in 154
  3. Florida#36 · 1 in 174
  4. Vermont#38 · 1 in 119
  5. New Hampshire#43 · 1 in 123

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Maine#27601 in 105
Arizona#32241 in 154
Florida#36671 in 174
Vermont#38201 in 119
New Hampshire#43241 in 123
Colorado#45411 in 193
Hawaii#45201 in 149
Wyoming#4981 in 179
District of Columbia#51201 in 198
Maryland#51551 in 209
West Virginia#51851 in 215
Louisiana#52981 in 212
North Dakota#52301 in 188
Washington#52401 in 229
California#541471 in 233
Virginia#55981 in 234
New York#583791 in 218
Massachusetts#611331 in 210
Pennsylvania#613171 in 224
Wisconsin#62811 in 274
Missouri#63851 in 318
Rhode Island#65171 in 242
Connecticut#66391 in 237
Oklahoma#66701 in 323
Kansas#69431 in 306
Oregon#70191 in 264
North Carolina#731261 in 289
Texas#731581 in 362
Kentucky#74871 in 314
Michigan#741131 in 324
Illinois#761671 in 296
Arkansas#78551 in 341
Minnesota#78581 in 328
Ohio#781341 in 336
South Dakota#78191 in 273
Tennessee#78791 in 339
New Mexico#80181 in 274
Montana#84121 in 297
New Jersey#85651 in 364
South Carolina#93531 in 392
Utah#96121 in 367
Indiana#97471 in 477
Mississippi#100561 in 381
Idaho#10191 in 376
Iowa#105351 in 517
Nebraska#110211 in 487
Georgia#112671 in 452
Alabama#116601 in 489
Alaska———
Delaware———
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 1934

girls
#70
3,475 births · 1 in 300 girls
boys
#1,783
16 births · 1 in 64,537 boys

Top girls' names in 1934

  1. #1Mary56,929
  2. #2Betty31,089
  3. #3Barbara29,239
  4. #4Shirley22,841
  5. #5Dorothy21,281
  6. #6Patricia20,844
  7. #7Joan19,465
  8. #8Margaret15,144
  9. #9Helen14,100
  10. #10Nancy13,520
  11. #70Sylvia3,475

Top boys' names in 1934

  1. #1Robert55,843
  2. #2James54,270
  3. #3John46,743
  4. #4William40,175
  5. #5Richard33,167
  6. #6Donald30,408
  7. #7Charles29,790
  8. #8George18,500
  9. #9Thomas17,373
  10. #10Joseph17,111
  11. #1,783Sylvia16
More about 1934

girls

1,044,225 girls got a published name in 1934; 1 in 300 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.6% of the 4,973 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.4% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #67Sarah3,601
  2. #68Janice3,588
  3. #69Audrey3,582
  4. #70Sylvia3,475
  5. #71Pauline3,445
  6. #72Charlotte3,434
  7. #73Wilma3,311
Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 571Luann#1,442 → #871
  2. ↑ 469Alison#1,442 → #973
  3. ↑ 439Golda#1,364 → #925
  4. ↑ 350Ronald#1,244 → #894
  5. ↑ 346Gale#1,102 → #756
Fallers
  1. ↓ 685Nira#463 → #1,148
  2. ↓ 342Vina#782 → #1,124
  3. ↓ 316Zita#947 → #1,263
  4. ↓ 299Myrtie#834 → #1,133
  5. ↓ 278Theola#985 → #1,263

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

boys

1,032,596 boys got a published name in 1934; 1 in 64,537 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 57.6% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #1,725Thompson17
  2. #1,725West17
  3. #1,725Wilburt17
  4. #1,783Sylvia16
  5. #1,783Alcide16
  6. #1,783Alf16
  7. #1,783Alpha16
  8. #1,860Alvan15
  9. #1,860Anson15
  10. #1,860Apolonio15

Tied with 76 names at #1,783; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1933
Risers
  1. ↑ 746Lanny#1,361 → #615
  2. ↑ 630Kerry#1,586 → #956
  3. ↑ 620Marland#1,456 → #836
  4. ↑ 404Kirk#1,202 → #798
  5. ↑ 350Valentin#1,281 → #931
Fallers
  1. ↓ 730Neville#995 → #1,725
  2. ↓ 616Garner#770 → #1,386
  3. ↓ 520Vivian#905 → #1,425
  4. ↓ 488Finis#869 → #1,357
  5. ↓ 464Malcom#961 → #1,425

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

See the top 100 for 1934 →