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
- Peak · girls
- 1937 · 4,371 births
- Debut · girls
- 81 births
- In top 100 · girls
- 36 yrsof 146 years
- Total births · girls
- 245,070since 1880
Sylvia over time
Rank among girls' names. Click any year to open it.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | #300 | 1,017 | — | |
| 2024 | #361 | 868 | — | |
| 2023 | #427 | 724 | — | |
| 2022 | #437 | 720 | — | |
| 2021 | #465 | 673 | — | |
| 2020 | #501 | 606 | — | |
| 2019 | #510 | 616 | — | |
| 2018 | #492 | 633 | — | |
| 2017 | #482 | 647 | — | |
| 2016 | #502 | 622 | — | |
| 2015 | #484 | 662 | — | |
| 2014 | #490 | 638 | — | |
| 2013 | #507 | 594 | — | |
| 2012 | #525 | 578 | — | |
| 2011 | #550 | 531 | — | |
| 2010 | #557 | 525 | — | |
| 2009 | #548 | 555 | — | |
| 2008 | #554 | 556 | — | |
| 2007 | #532 | 588 | — | |
| 2006 | #520 | 581 | — | |
| 2005 | #528 | 547 | — | |
| 2004 | #556 | 513 | — | |
| 2003 | #550 | 504 | — | |
| 2002 | #513 | 535 | — | |
| 2001 | #517 | 519 | — | |
| 2000 | #496 | 542 | — | |
| 1999 | #482 | 539 | — | |
| 1998 | #468 | 553 | — | |
| 1997 | #484 | 518 | — | |
| 1996 | #452 | 553 | — | |
| 1995 | #436 | 589 | — | |
| 1994 | #423 | 593 | — | |
| 1993 | #372 | 685 | — | |
| 1992 | #361 | 711 | #8,435 | 5 |
| 1991 | #322 | 831 | — | |
| 1990 | #334 | 818 | #8,117 | 5 |
| 1989 | #319 | 799 | #5,615 | 8 |
| 1988 | #290 | 856 | #5,200 | 8 |
| 1987 | #285 | 863 | #4,968 | 8 |
| 1986 | #280 | 879 | #5,332 | 7 |
| 1985 | #271 | 931 | #5,147 | 7 |
| 1984 | #248 | 1,003 | #3,270 | 13 |
| 1983 | #238 | 1,038 | #5,484 | 6 |
| 1982 | #254 | 984 | #4,593 | 8 |
| 1981 | #247 | 1,008 | #5,468 | 6 |
| 1980 | #264 | 962 | #4,940 | 7 |
| 1979 | #247 | 1,016 | #6,056 | 5 |
| 1978 | #251 | 947 | #5,059 | 6 |
| 1977 | #255 | 982 | #4,164 | 8 |
| 1976 | #228 | 1,057 | #5,587 | 5 |
| 1975 | #215 | 1,143 | #3,659 | 9 |
| 1974 | #189 | 1,353 | #3,558 | 9 |
| 1973 | #192 | 1,347 | — | |
| 1972 | #194 | 1,465 | #4,986 | 5 |
| 1971 | #194 | 1,577 | #2,973 | 11 |
| 1970 | #189 | 1,727 | #3,071 | 10 |
| 1969 | #178 | 1,814 | #2,415 | 13 |
| 1968 | #164 | 1,963 | #2,576 | 11 |
| 1967 | #156 | 2,214 | #2,352 | 12 |
| 1966 | #146 | 2,411 | #3,537 | 6 |
| 1965 | #131 | 2,960 | #2,270 | 13 |
| 1964 | #136 | 2,945 | #2,546 | 11 |
| 1963 | #128 | 3,280 | #2,414 | 12 |
| 1962 | #131 | 3,458 | #1,805 | 20 |
| 1961 | #124 | 3,752 | #1,778 | 21 |
| 1960 | #121 | 3,824 | #2,685 | 10 |
| 1959 | #120 | 3,853 | #1,916 | 18 |
| 1958 | #114 | 4,156 | #2,370 | 12 |
| 1957 | #109 | 4,310 | #1,715 | 22 |
| 1956 | #108 | 4,145 | #2,969 | 8 |
| 1955 | #107 | 4,003 | #2,302 | 12 |
| 1954 | #101 | 4,083 | #2,743 | 9 |
| 1953 | #101 | 3,812 | #3,143 | 7 |
| 1952 | #99 | 3,789 | #2,875 | 8 |
| 1951 | #97 | 3,777 | #2,495 | 10 |
| 1950 | #97 | 3,612 | #2,438 | 10 |
| 1949 | #94 | 3,816 | #2,606 | 9 |
| 1948 | #100 | 3,671 | #2,608 | 9 |
| 1947 | #97 | 4,100 | #1,916 | 16 |
| 1946 | #82 | 4,093 | #2,030 | 13 |
| 1945 | #83 | 3,375 | #2,131 | 11 |
| 1944 | #83 | 3,292 | #1,810 | 15 |
| 1943 | #77 | 3,623 | #1,699 | 18 |
| 1942 | #72 | 3,728 | #2,940 | 7 |
| 1941 | #65 | 3,788 | #1,759 | 16 |
| 1940 | #62 | 3,802 | #1,519 | 20 |
| 1939 | #62 | 3,870 | #1,425 | 22 |
| 1938 | #56 | 4,259 | #1,976 | 13 |
| 1937 | #50 | 4,371 | #1,627 | 18 |
| 1936 | #53 | 4,156 | #1,356 | 24 |
| 1935 | #60 | 3,620 | #1,584 | 19 |
| 1934 | #70 | 3,475 | #1,783 | 16 |
| 1933 | #84 | 2,935 | #1,997 | 13 |
| 1932 | #96 | 2,568 | #1,848 | 16 |
| 1931 | #123 | 1,927 | #2,207 | 12 |
| 1930 | #132 | 1,830 | #2,444 | 11 |
| 1929 | #119 | 2,037 | #1,933 | 16 |
| 1928 | #119 | 2,222 | #2,048 | 15 |
| 1927 | #116 | 2,347 | #2,912 | 9 |
| 1926 | #107 | 2,528 | #1,981 | 16 |
| 1925 | #106 | 2,537 | #1,935 | 17 |
| 1924 | #104 | 2,757 | #3,505 | 7 |
| 1923 | #98 | 2,838 | #2,224 | 14 |
| 1922 | #94 | 2,961 | #3,532 | 7 |
| 1921 | #88 | 3,297 | #1,904 | 18 |
| 1920 | #85 | 3,317 | #4,286 | 5 |
| 1919 | #77 | 3,412 | #3,391 | 7 |
| 1918 | #71 | 3,675 | #3,096 | 8 |
| 1917 | #69 | 3,469 | #2,280 | 12 |
| 1916 | #68 | 3,414 | #2,926 | 8 |
| 1915 | #67 | 3,284 | #2,829 | 8 |
| 1914 | #70 | 2,565 | #1,772 | 13 |
| 1913 | #72 | 2,013 | #1,945 | 9 |
| 1912 | #77 | 1,639 | #1,746 | 9 |
| 1911 | #82 | 1,184 | — | |
| 1910 | #92 | 1,000 | — | |
| 1909 | #93 | 847 | — | |
| 1908 | #101 | 748 | — | |
| 1907 | #109 | 611 | #1,200 | 6 |
| 1906 | #107 | 617 | #1,253 | 5 |
| 1905 | #120 | 528 | — | |
| 1904 | #118 | 497 | — | |
| 1903 | #120 | 464 | — | |
| 1902 | #136 | 411 | — | |
| 1901 | #129 | 390 | — | |
| 1900 | #136 | 446 | — | |
| 1899 | #130 | 371 | — | |
| 1898 | #132 | 391 | — | |
| 1897 | #135 | 357 | — | |
| 1896 | #140 | 340 | — | |
| 1895 | #157 | 276 | — | |
| 1894 | #152 | 288 | — | |
| 1893 | #144 | 286 | — | |
| 1892 | #149 | 275 | — | |
| 1891 | #155 | 218 | — | |
| 1890 | #158 | 223 | — | |
| 1889 | #177 | 166 | — | |
| 1888 | #174 | 166 | — | |
| 1887 | #173 | 135 | — | |
| 1886 | #167 | 137 | — | |
| 1885 | #173 | 112 | — | |
| 1884 | #199 | 87 | — | |
| 1883 | #190 | 79 | — | |
| 1882 | #178 | 79 | — | |
| 1881 | #185 | 67 | — | |
| 1880 | #161 | 81 | — | |
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 1949
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Arizona#28 · 1 in 137
- Texas#39 · 1 in 192
- North Carolina#40 · 1 in 190
- South Carolina#41 · 1 in 208
- New Mexico#42 · 1 in 177
Best ever in a state: #16 in New York, 1913.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | #28 | 65 | 1 in 137 |
| Texas | #39 | 494 | 1 in 192 |
| North Carolina | #40 | 258 | 1 in 190 |
| South Carolina | #41 | 134 | 1 in 208 |
| New Mexico | #42 | 49 | 1 in 177 |
| Florida | #49 | 117 | 1 in 230 |
| Virginia | #56 | 145 | 1 in 246 |
| Maine | #64 | 38 | 1 in 240 |
| New Hampshire | #66 | 21 | 1 in 237 |
| Louisiana | #67 | 118 | 1 in 284 |
| District of Columbia | #69 | 40 | 1 in 287 |
| California | #74 | 338 | 1 in 335 |
| Vermont | #78 | 11 | 1 in 321 |
| West Virginia | #78 | 64 | 1 in 373 |
| Hawaii | #80 | 18 | 1 in 293 |
| Colorado | #81 | 41 | 1 in 348 |
| Alabama | #82 | 99 | 1 in 378 |
| Tennessee | #87 | 86 | 1 in 438 |
| Mississippi | #89 | 84 | 1 in 347 |
| Arkansas | #93 | 53 | 1 in 422 |
| Maryland | #93 | 55 | 1 in 408 |
| Georgia | #94 | 107 | 1 in 398 |
| Oklahoma | #97 | 41 | 1 in 524 |
| Wyoming | #104 | 6 | 1 in 425 |
| Montana | #108 | 15 | 1 in 405 |
| Oregon | #110 | 29 | 1 in 518 |
| Pennsylvania | #115 | 182 | 1 in 564 |
| New York | #118 | 249 | 1 in 570 |
| Indiana | #119 | 64 | 1 in 656 |
| Washington | #122 | 44 | 1 in 571 |
| Michigan | #123 | 109 | 1 in 649 |
| Illinois | #124 | 130 | 1 in 660 |
| South Dakota | #124 | 12 | 1 in 587 |
| Kentucky | #126 | 49 | 1 in 695 |
| Ohio | #126 | 119 | 1 in 729 |
| Kansas | #130 | 25 | 1 in 719 |
| Idaho | #136 | 10 | 1 in 613 |
| Iowa | #136 | 35 | 1 in 780 |
| Missouri | #136 | 48 | 1 in 807 |
| Massachusetts | #141 | 45 | 1 in 994 |
| Minnesota | #143 | 36 | 1 in 903 |
| New Jersey | #149 | 47 | 1 in 903 |
| Wisconsin | #149 | 34 | 1 in 1,086 |
| North Dakota | #154 | 8 | 1 in 834 |
| Nebraska | #171 | 11 | 1 in 1,222 |
| Utah | #195 | 8 | 1 in 1,028 |
| Connecticut | #196 | 11 | 1 in 1,569 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1937 at #50 (4,371 births)
- Births halved by 1968, 31 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: 36 yrs · run 1932–1952
- Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
- Highest: 1 in 243 girls born in 1937 were named Sylvia (0.41%)
- Latest: 1 in 1,580 girls born in 2025 (0.06%)
- 16.1% of all girls named Sylvia (39,540) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 1,109 | #161 (1880) | #178 |
| 1890s | 3,025 | #130 (1899) | #145 |
| 1900s | 5,559 | #93 (1909) | #117 |
| 1910s | 25,655 | #67 (1915) | #75 |
| 1920s | 26,841 | #85 (1920) | #104 |
| 1930s | 33,011 | #50 (1937) | #79 |
| 1940s | 37,288 | #62 (1940) | #82 |
| 1950s | 39,540 | #97 (1951) | #105 |
| 1960s | 28,621 | #121 (1960) | #142 |
| 1970s | 12,614 | #189 (1970) | #215 |
| 1980s | 9,323 | #238 (1983) | #270 |
| 1990s | 6,390 | #322 (1991) | #413 |
| 2000s | 5,440 | #496 (2000) | #531 |
| 2010s | 6,046 | #482 (2017) | #510 |
| 2020s | 4,608 | #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 1949
Top girls' names in 1949
Top boys' names in 1949
More about 1949
girls
1,710,877 girls got a published name in 1949; 1 in 448 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.5% of the 6,066 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 24.7% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,773,939 boys got a published name in 1949; 1 in 197,104 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 38.0% of the 4,205 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.9% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
- #2,453Yale10
- #2,453Yvonne10
- #2,453Zebedee10
- #2,606Sylvia9
- #2,606Alban9
- #2,606Alma9
- #2,606Alphonsa9
- #2,802Abbott8
- #2,802Able8
- #2,802Aime8
Tied with 195 names at #2,606; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.