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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201964peak #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 1964

  • 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: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNHWashington: #244 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,201 girlsWAIdaho: #191 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 732 girlsIDMontana: #244 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 1,075 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #206 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 935 girlsNDMinnesota: #361 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 3,768 girlsMNIllinois: #189 for girls · 99 births · 1 in 992 girlsILWisconsin: #255 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 1,980 girlsWIMichigan: #243 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 1,532 girlsMINew York: #162 for girls · 202 births · 1 in 796 girlsNYMassachusetts: #320 for girls · 16 births · 1 in 3,137 girlsMARhode Island: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedRIOregon: #181 for girls · 18 births · 1 in 762 girlsORNevada: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedNVWyoming: #127 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 390 girlsWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedIAIndiana: #246 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 1,511 girlsINOhio: #255 for girls · 59 births · 1 in 1,593 girlsOHPennsylvania: #234 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 1,471 girlsPANew Jersey: #198 for girls · 53 births · 1 in 1,074 girlsNJConnecticut: #258 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,730 girlsCTCalifornia: #81 for girls · 487 births · 1 in 353 girlsCAUtah: #246 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 1,176 girlsUTColorado: #180 for girls · 24 births · 1 in 739 girlsCONebraska: #311 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 2,171 girlsNEMissouri: #211 for girls · 34 births · 1 in 1,162 girlsMOKentucky: #244 for girls · 19 births · 1 in 1,568 girlsKYWest Virginia: #199 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,088 girlsWVVirginia: #133 for girls · 70 births · 1 in 569 girlsVAMaryland: #189 for girls · 31 births · 1 in 970 girlsMDDelaware: #184 for girls · 5 births · 1 in 859 girlsDEArizona: #53 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 215 girlsAZNew Mexico: #59 for girls · 50 births · 1 in 212 girlsNMKansas: #312 for girls · 9 births · 1 in 1,908 girlsKSArkansas: #186 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 870 girlsARTennessee: #141 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 670 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #86 for girls · 117 births · 1 in 394 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #94 for girls · 62 births · 1 in 388 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #107 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 416 girlsDCOklahoma: #247 for girls · 14 births · 1 in 1,351 girlsOKLouisiana: #113 for girls · 83 births · 1 in 437 girlsLAMississippi: #87 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 334 girlsMSAlabama: #118 for girls · 61 births · 1 in 527 girlsALGeorgia: #103 for girls · 101 births · 1 in 434 girlsGAHawaii: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedHITexas: #27 for girls · 676 births · 1 in 154 girlsTXFlorida: #92 for girls · 126 births · 1 in 381 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Texas#27 · 1 in 154
  2. Arizona#53 · 1 in 215
  3. New Mexico#59 · 1 in 212
  4. California#81 · 1 in 353
  5. North Carolina#86 · 1 in 394

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Texas#276761 in 154
Arizona#53681 in 215
New Mexico#59501 in 212
California#814871 in 353
North Carolina#861171 in 394
Mississippi#87681 in 334
Florida#921261 in 381
South Carolina#94621 in 388
Georgia#1031011 in 434
District of Columbia#107301 in 416
Louisiana#113831 in 437
Alabama#118611 in 527
Wyoming#12761 in 390
Virginia#133701 in 569
Tennessee#141521 in 670
New York#1622021 in 796
Colorado#180241 in 739
Oregon#181181 in 762
Delaware#18451 in 859
Arkansas#186201 in 870
Illinois#189991 in 992
Maryland#189311 in 970
Idaho#19171 in 732
New Jersey#198531 in 1,074
West Virginia#199141 in 1,088
North Dakota#20661 in 935
Missouri#211341 in 1,162
Pennsylvania#234681 in 1,471
Michigan#243511 in 1,532
Kentucky#244191 in 1,568
Montana#24451 in 1,075
Washington#244201 in 1,201
Indiana#246311 in 1,511
Utah#24681 in 1,176
Oklahoma#247141 in 1,351
Ohio#255591 in 1,593
Wisconsin#255201 in 1,980
Connecticut#258141 in 1,730
Nebraska#31161 in 2,171
Kansas#31291 in 1,908
Massachusetts#320161 in 3,137
Minnesota#36191 in 3,768
Alaska———
Hawaii———
Iowa———
Maine———
Nevada———
New Hampshire———
Rhode Island———
South Dakota———
Vermont———

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 1964

girls
#136
2,945 births · 1 in 643 girls
boys
#2,546
11 births · 1 in 181,154 boys

Top girls' names in 1964

  1. #1Lisa54,270
  2. #2Mary40,985
  3. #3Susan31,515
  4. #4Karen30,243
  5. #5Patricia26,091
  6. #6Kimberly24,128
  7. #7Donna23,808
  8. #8Linda23,629
  9. #9Cynthia20,321
  10. #10Tammy20,043
  11. #136Sylvia2,945

Top boys' names in 1964

  1. #1Michael82,617
  2. #2John82,508
  3. #3David75,043
  4. #4James73,026
  5. #5Robert69,980
  6. #6Mark45,261
  7. #7William44,224
  8. #8Richard40,098
  9. #9Thomas34,463
  10. #10Jeffrey30,728
  11. #2,546Sylvia11
More about 1964

girls

1,894,855 girls got a published name in 1964; 1 in 643 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.3% of the 7,806 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.6% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #133Veronica3,061
  2. #134Carrie2,975
  3. #135Sheryl2,957
  4. #136Sylvia2,945
  5. #136Crystal2,945
  6. #138Sheri2,920
  7. #139Terry2,909
  8. #140Phyllis2,895

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1963
Risers
  1. ↑ 4,987Anjanette#5,891 → #904
  2. ↑ 2,403Deneen#2,619 → #216
  3. ↑ 2,162Denine#3,066 → #904
  4. ↑ 1,303Daneen#2,211 → #908
  5. ↑ 1,137Kecia#1,754 → #617
Fallers
  1. ↓ 341Leisha#993 → #1,334
  2. ↓ 320Cary#973 → #1,293
  3. ↓ 317Lisha#929 → #1,246
  4. ↓ 281Cecile#973 → #1,254
  5. ↓ 276Alexis#790 → #1,066

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

boys

1,992,698 boys got a published name in 1964; 1 in 181,154 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 44.6% of the 4,594 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 29.0% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #2,409Winton12
  2. #2,409Yusef12
  3. #2,409Zeb12
  4. #2,546Sylvia11
  5. #2,546Alfons11
  6. #2,546Alfonse11
  7. #2,546Ander11
  8. #2,665Abran10
  9. #2,665Agostino10
  10. #2,665Aj10

Tied with 118 names at #2,546; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1963
Risers
  1. ↑ 864Deron#1,548 → #684
  2. ↑ 653Cassius#1,513 → #860
  3. ↑ 392Kipp#1,215 → #823
  4. ↑ 363Fitzgerald#1,052 → #689
  5. ↑ 334Adrain#1,279 → #945
Fallers
  1. ↓ 286Farrell#886 → #1,172
  2. ↓ 283Tal#813 → #1,096
  3. ↓ 278Laura#921 → #1,199
  4. ↓ 272Pamela#947 → #1,219
  5. ↓ 270Huey#891 → #1,161

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

See the top 100 for 1964 →