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#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201945peak #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 1945

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedAKMaine: #72 for girls · 27 births · 1 in 248 girlsMEVermont: #61 for girls · 12 births · 1 in 204 girlsVTNew Hampshire: #52 for girls · 21 births · 1 in 157 girlsNHWashington: #96 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 444 girlsWAIdaho: #102 for girls · 11 births · 1 in 402 girlsIDMontana: #98 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 384 girlsMTNorth Dakota: #69 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 268 girlsNDMinnesota: #125 for girls · 30 births · 1 in 784 girlsMNIllinois: #108 for girls · 106 births · 1 in 580 girlsILWisconsin: #109 for girls · 40 births · 1 in 663 girlsWIMichigan: #103 for girls · 88 births · 1 in 567 girlsMINew York: #119 for girls · 180 births · 1 in 602 girlsNYMassachusetts: #110 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 681 girlsMARhode Island: #116 for girls · 10 births · 1 in 569 girlsRIOregon: #84 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 377 girlsORNevada: #45 for girls · 7 births · 1 in 133 girlsNVWyoming: fewer than 5 girls named Sylvia, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #120 for girls · 8 births · 1 in 577 girlsSDIowa: #116 for girls · 28 births · 1 in 702 girlsIAIndiana: #88 for girls · 68 births · 1 in 435 girlsINOhio: #95 for girls · 128 births · 1 in 467 girlsOHPennsylvania: #95 for girls · 175 births · 1 in 447 girlsPANew Jersey: #121 for girls · 48 births · 1 in 695 girlsNJConnecticut: #143 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 829 girlsCTCalifornia: #67 for girls · 269 births · 1 in 310 girlsCAUtah: #67 for girls · 23 births · 1 in 271 girlsUTColorado: #121 for girls · 20 births · 1 in 513 girlsCONebraska: #108 for girls · 17 births · 1 in 585 girlsNEMissouri: #106 for girls · 52 births · 1 in 575 girlsMOKentucky: #83 for girls · 60 births · 1 in 448 girlsKYWest Virginia: #67 for girls · 51 births · 1 in 343 girlsWVVirginia: #53 for girls · 107 births · 1 in 268 girlsVAMaryland: #63 for girls · 64 births · 1 in 274 girlsMDDelaware: #96 for girls · 6 births · 1 in 363 girlsDEArizona: #22 for girls · 63 births · 1 in 96 girlsAZNew Mexico: #31 for girls · 42 births · 1 in 146 girlsNMKansas: #100 for girls · 26 births · 1 in 526 girlsKSArkansas: #114 for girls · 33 births · 1 in 555 girlsARTennessee: #72 for girls · 79 births · 1 in 378 girlsTNNorth Carolina: #33 for girls · 247 births · 1 in 164 girlsNCSouth Carolina: #35 for girls · 127 births · 1 in 184 girlsSCDistrict of Columbia: #54 for girls · 43 births · 1 in 219 girlsDCOklahoma: #114 for girls · 29 births · 1 in 639 girlsOKLouisiana: #69 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 276 girlsLAMississippi: #57 for girls · 94 births · 1 in 248 girlsMSAlabama: #73 for girls · 93 births · 1 in 336 girlsALGeorgia: #59 for girls · 122 births · 1 in 282 girlsGAHawaii: #50 for girls · 25 births · 1 in 183 girlsHITexas: #41 for girls · 333 births · 1 in 217 girlsTXFlorida: #47 for girls · 98 births · 1 in 229 girlsFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · girls
  1. Arizona#22 · 1 in 96
  2. New Mexico#31 · 1 in 146
  3. North Carolina#33 · 1 in 164
  4. South Carolina#35 · 1 in 184
  5. Texas#41 · 1 in 217

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

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Arizona#22631 in 96
New Mexico#31421 in 146
North Carolina#332471 in 164
South Carolina#351271 in 184
Texas#413331 in 217
Nevada#4571 in 133
Florida#47981 in 229
Hawaii#50251 in 183
New Hampshire#52211 in 157
Virginia#531071 in 268
District of Columbia#54431 in 219
Mississippi#57941 in 248
Georgia#591221 in 282
Vermont#61121 in 204
Maryland#63641 in 274
California#672691 in 310
Utah#67231 in 271
West Virginia#67511 in 343
Louisiana#69931 in 276
North Dakota#69201 in 268
Maine#72271 in 248
Tennessee#72791 in 378
Alabama#73931 in 336
Kentucky#83601 in 448
Oregon#84261 in 377
Indiana#88681 in 435
Ohio#951281 in 467
Pennsylvania#951751 in 447
Delaware#9661 in 363
Washington#96431 in 444
Montana#98101 in 384
Kansas#100261 in 526
Idaho#102111 in 402
Michigan#103881 in 567
Missouri#106521 in 575
Illinois#1081061 in 580
Nebraska#108171 in 585
Wisconsin#109401 in 663
Massachusetts#110511 in 681
Arkansas#114331 in 555
Oklahoma#114291 in 639
Iowa#116281 in 702
Rhode Island#116101 in 569
New York#1191801 in 602
South Dakota#12081 in 577
Colorado#121201 in 513
New Jersey#121481 in 695
Minnesota#125301 in 784
Connecticut#143171 in 829
Alaska
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 1945

girls
#83
3,375 births · 1 in 387 girls
boys
#2,131
11 births · 1 in 122,350 boys

Top girls' names in 1945

  1. #1Mary59,278
  2. #2Linda41,465
  3. #3Barbara38,273
  4. #4Patricia35,844
  5. #5Carol30,389
  6. #6Sandra24,700
  7. #7Nancy21,456
  8. #8Sharon20,838
  9. #9Judith20,192
  10. #10Susan19,222
  11. #83Sylvia3,375

Top boys' names in 1945

  1. #1James74,464
  2. #2Robert69,947
  3. #3John66,117
  4. #4William50,218
  5. #5Richard46,046
  6. #6David37,110
  7. #7Charles32,469
  8. #8Thomas31,874
  9. #9Michael29,902
  10. #10Ronald23,665
  11. #2,131Sylvia11
More about 1945

girls

1,307,090 girls got a published name in 1945; 1 in 387 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 98.4% of the 5,242 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #80Joann3,465
  2. #81Anne3,407
  3. #82Katherine3,393
  4. #83Sylvia3,375
  5. #84Patsy3,350
  6. #85Rebecca3,331
  7. #86Maria3,313
Biggest movers since 1944
Risers
  1. 799Lauren#1,153#354
  2. 707Amber#1,661#954
  3. 648Laureen#1,315#667
  4. 630Deidre#1,609#979
  5. 623Candice#1,364#741
Fallers
  1. 395Bernardine#937#1,332
  2. 386Joella#988#1,374
  3. 342Venita#937#1,279
  4. 275Magdalene#867#1,142
  5. 249Alpha#964#1,213

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

boys

1,345,855 boys got a published name in 1945; 1 in 122,350 of them was named Sylvia, which outranked 43.7% of the 3,783 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 34.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvia
  1. #2,009Wilburt12
  2. #2,009Willaim12
  3. #2,009Yancey12
  4. #2,131Sylvia11
  5. #2,131Abran11
  6. #2,131Alcide11
  7. #2,131Alpha11
  8. #2,242Abbott10
  9. #2,242Abdul10
  10. #2,242Alferd10

Tied with 110 names at #2,131; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1944
Risers
  1. 527Delano#1,085#558
  2. 499Dane#1,235#736
  3. 385Eusebio#1,328#943
  4. 371Erick#1,235#864
  5. 311Gerardo#1,282#971
Fallers
  1. 479Joan#870#1,349
  2. 408Kit#841#1,249
  3. 392Llewellyn#935#1,327
  4. 361Valentine#888#1,249
  5. 321Hilario#906#1,227

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

See the top 100 for 1945