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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201962peak #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 1962

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: #132 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 556 girlsNHWashington: #235 for girls · 22 births · 1 in 1,261 girlsWAIdaho: #266 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,207 girlsIDMontana: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNDMinnesota: #272 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,105 girlsMNIllinois: #150 for girls · 146 births · 1 in 705 girlsILWisconsin: #267 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 2,352 girlsWIMichigan: #195 for girls · 77 births · 1 in 1,066 girlsMINew York: #152 for girls · 223 births · 1 in 733 girlsNYMassachusetts: #254 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 1,902 girlsMARhode Island: #186 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 1,119 girlsRIOregon: #281 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,540 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #230 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 1,117 girlsSDIowa: #311 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 2,487 girlsIAIndiana: #185 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 968 girlsINOhio: #212 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 1,231 girlsOHPennsylvania: #226 for girls · 74 births · 1 in 1,410 girlsPANew Jersey: #159 for girls · 71 births · 1 in 804 girlsNJConnecticut: #163 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 911 girlsCTCalifornia: #84 for girls · 495 births · 1 in 350 girlsCAUtah: #243 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,173 girlsUTColorado: #189 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 799 girlsCONebraska: #241 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 1,434 girlsNEMissouri: #182 for girls · 44 births · 1 in 968 girlsMOKentucky: #201 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 1,101 girlsKYWest Virginia: #163 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 849 girlsWVVirginia: #124 for girls · 81 births · 1 in 497 girlsVAMaryland: #156 for girls · 39 births · 1 in 751 girlsMDDelaware: #161 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 728 girlsDEArizona: #47 for girls · 80 births · 1 in 193 girlsAZNew Mexico: #52 for girls · 57 births · 1 in 202 girlsNMKansas: #216 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 1,102 girlsKSArkansas: #139 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 653 girlsARTennessee: #133 for girls · 55 births · 1 in 647 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #77 for girls · 146 births · 1 in 327 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #61 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 251 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #171 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 768 girlsDCOklahoma: #210 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,031 girlsOKLouisiana: #110 for girls · 85 births · 1 in 448 girlsLAMississippi: #83 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 339 girlsMSAlabama: #106 for girls · 73 births · 1 in 457 girlsALGeorgia: #85 for girls · 130 births · 1 in 336 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedHITexas: #25 for girls · 778 births · 1 in 142 girlsTXFlorida: #94 for girls · 134 births · 1 in 367 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Texas#25 · 1 in 142
  2. Arizona#47 · 1 in 193
  3. New Mexico#52 · 1 in 202
  4. South Carolina#61 · 1 in 251
  5. North Carolina#77 · 1 in 327

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Texas#257781 in 142
Arizona#47801 in 193
New Mexico#52571 in 202
South Carolina#611011 in 251
North Carolina#771461 in 327
Mississippi#83731 in 339
California#844951 in 350
Georgia#851301 in 336
Florida#941341 in 367
Alabama#106731 in 457
Louisiana#110851 in 448
Virginia#124811 in 497
New Hampshire#132101 in 556
Tennessee#133551 in 647
Arkansas#139271 in 653
Illinois#1501461 in 705
New York#1522231 in 733
Maryland#156391 in 751
New Jersey#159711 in 804
Delaware#16161 in 728
Connecticut#163261 in 911
West Virginia#163191 in 849
District of Columbia#171171 in 768
Missouri#182441 in 968
Indiana#185501 in 968
Rhode Island#18671 in 1,119
Colorado#189241 in 799
Michigan#195771 in 1,066
Kentucky#201281 in 1,101
Oklahoma#210201 in 1,031
Ohio#212801 in 1,231
Kansas#216181 in 1,102
Pennsylvania#226741 in 1,410
South Dakota#23061 in 1,117
Washington#235221 in 1,261
Nebraska#241101 in 1,434
Utah#24391 in 1,173
Massachusetts#254271 in 1,902
Idaho#26651 in 1,207
Wisconsin#267181 in 2,352
Minnesota#272181 in 2,105
Oregon#281101 in 1,540
Iowa#311111 in 2,487
Alaska———
Hawaii———
Maine———
Montana———
Nevada———
North Dakota———
Vermont———
Wyoming———

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 1962

girls
#131
3,458 births · 1 in 569 girls
boys
#1,805
20 births · 1 in 103,439 boys

Top girls' names in 1962

  1. #1Lisa46,069
  2. #2Mary43,502
  3. #3Susan35,752
  4. #4Karen35,184
  5. #5Linda31,461
  6. #6Patricia26,532
  7. #7Donna25,719
  8. #8Cynthia24,025
  9. #9Deborah22,889
  10. #10Sandra22,420
  11. #131Sylvia3,458

Top boys' names in 1962

  1. #1Michael85,059
  2. #2David81,337
  3. #3John78,427
  4. #4James72,555
  5. #5Robert70,199
  6. #6Mark53,520
  7. #7William44,853
  8. #8Richard39,422
  9. #9Thomas36,529
  10. #10Jeffrey33,537
  11. #1,805Sylvia20
More about 1962

girls

1,966,603 girls got a published name in 1962; 1 in 569 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.3% of the 7,584 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.9% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #128Helen3,586
  2. #129Phyllis3,496
  3. #130Shelly3,480
  4. #131Sylvia3,458
  5. #132Yvonne3,382
  6. #133Alice3,249
  7. #134Sheryl3,240
Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. ↑ 1,281Tiffany#2,070 → #789
  2. ↑ 879Whitney#1,627 → #748
  3. ↑ 541Zina#1,533 → #992
  4. ↑ 414Glynis#1,406 → #992
  5. ↑ 408Lolita#978 → #570
Fallers
  1. ↓ 300Fern#821 → #1,121
  2. ↓ 259Jacklyn#815 → #1,074
  3. ↓ 255Dorthy#929 → #1,184
  4. ↓ 224Laurene#943 → #1,167
  5. ↓ 215Jimmie#911 → #1,126

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

boys

2,068,772 boys got a published name in 1962; 1 in 103,439 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 61.0% of the 4,631 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #1,757Ventura21
  2. #1,757Wanda21
  3. #1,757Welton21
  4. #1,805Sylvia20
  5. #1,805Allie20
  6. #1,805Ann20
  7. #1,805Anselmo20
  8. #1,852Americo19
  9. #1,852Amy19
  10. #1,852Author19

Tied with 46 names at #1,805; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1961
Risers
  1. ↑ 490Ritchie#1,262 → #772
  2. ↑ 353King#1,349 → #996
  3. ↑ 338Arlie#1,322 → #984
  4. ↑ 250Robb#1,052 → #802
  5. ↑ 243Pernell#928 → #685
Fallers
  1. ↓ 351Mariano#928 → #1,279
  2. ↓ 349Michal#910 → #1,259
  3. ↓ 337Loran#958 → #1,295
  4. ↓ 292Sid#967 → #1,259
  5. ↓ 275Lorenza#940 → #1,215

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

See the top 100 for 1962 →