Sylva: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

#13,043

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Sylva

How common

1 in 229,610

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1920

37 babies

All-time total

908

#8,131 all-time among girls

First recorded

1886

in Social Security records

Sylva popularity over time

908 babies have been named Sylva since 1886, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Boys	Total	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	14	–	14	1	–	#1,026
1890s	73	–	73	7	+421%	#938
1900s	95	–	95	10	+30%	#1,085
1910s	210	5	215	22	+126%	#1,144
1920s	216	6	222	22	+3%	#1,467
1930s	136	7	143	14	-36%	#1,801
1940s	60	–	60	6	-58%	#3,208
1950s	31	–	31	3	-48%	#4,239
1960s	26	–	26	3	-16%	#5,632
1970s	10	–	10	1	-62%	#9,160
1980s	7	–	7	1	-30%	#8,959
1990s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–	–	–
2010s	5	–	5	1	–	#18,912
2020s (to 2025)	7	–	7	1	+133%	#13,043

The story of Sylva

Sylva is rare for girls in the United States, ranked #13,043 in 2025 with 7 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.

Since 1886, 908 American babies have been named Sylva. Its peak came in 1920, when 37 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Sylva stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Sylva?

The median living Sylva is about 77 years old; half are between 64 and 87. An estimated 200 people named Sylva are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Sylva year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank	Boys	Boys rank
2025	7	#13,043	–	–
2024	–	–	–	–
2023	–	–	–	–
2022	–	–	–	–
2021	–	–	–	–
2020	–	–	–	–
2019	–	–	–	–
2018	–	–	–	–
2017	–	–	–	–
2016	–	–	–	–
2015	–	–	–	–
2014	5	#18,912	–	–
2013	–	–	–	–
2012	–	–	–	–
2011	–	–	–	–
2010	–	–	–	–
2009	–	–	–	–
2008	–	–	–	–
2007	–	–	–	–
2006	–	–	–	–
2005	–	–	–	–
2004	–	–	–	–
2003	–	–	–	–
2002	–	–	–	–
2001	–	–	–	–
2000	–	–	–	–
1995	–	–	–	–
1990	–	–	–	–
1985	–	–	–	–
1980	–	–	–	–
1975	–	–	–	–
1970	5	#9,160	–	–
1965	–	–	–	–
1960	7	#5,632	–	–
1955	–	–	–	–
1950	–	–	–	–
1945	–	–	–	–
1940	7	#3,827	–	–
1935	19	#1,838	–	–
1930	10	#3,029	–	–
1925	27	#1,639	–	–
1920	31	#1,467	6	#4,228
1915	19	#1,786	–	–
1910	13	#1,330	–	–
1905	12	#1,157	–	–
1900	7	#1,709	–	–
1895	6	#1,570	–	–
1890	5	#1,509	–	–
1885	–	–	–	–
1880	–	–	–	–

Famous people named Sylva

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Sylva Koscina Italian actress and model (1933–1994) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Sylva, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Sylva?

The median living Sylva is about 77 years old. Half of all living Sylvas are between 64 and 87 years old.

How many people named Sylva are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Sylva are alive in the United States, based on 908 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Sylva in 2025?

Sylva ranked #13,043 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 7 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.

How many people are named Sylva?

908 babies have been named Sylva in the United States since 1886, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sylva most popular?

Sylva peaked in 1920, when 37 newborns received the name.

Is Sylva a boy or girl name?

Sylva is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 98% of babies with the name.

Is the name Sylva rising or falling?

Sylva is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Sylva?

Well-known people named Sylva include Sylva Koscina (actor).

Names like Sylva

Names that sound and feel close to Sylva: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Sylva with similar names → More names starting with S →