Sylvania: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	23	2	–	#816
1890s	36	4	+57%	#1,288
1900s	46	5	+28%	#1,496
1910s	87	9	+89%	#1,876
1920s	96	10	+10%	#2,370
1930s	55	6	-43%	#2,918
1940s	31	3	-44%	#3,653
1950s	75	8	+142%	#3,639
1960s	50	5	-33%	#5,773
1970s	17	2	-66%	#7,857
1980s	30	3	+76%	#7,289
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

#816

1890s

+57%

#1,288

1900s

+28%

#1,496

1910s

+89%

#1,876

1920s

+10%

#2,370

1930s

-43%

#2,918

1940s

-44%

#3,653

1950s

+142%

#3,639

1960s

-33%

#5,773

1970s

-66%

#7,857

1980s

+76%

#7,289

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Sylvania

Sylvania is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1881, 546 American babies have been named Sylvania. Its peak came in 1915, when 18 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1910s.

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 Sylvania stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Sylvania?

The median living Sylvania is about 67 years old; half are between 56 and 74. An estimated 200 people named Sylvania 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.

Sylvania year by year

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

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	–	–
2006	–	–
2005	–	–
2004	–	–
2003	–	–
2002	–	–
2001	–	–
2000	–	–
1995	–	–
1990	–	–
1985	–	–
1980	–	–
1975	7	#7,857
1970	–	–
1965	–	–
1960	5	#7,190
1955	10	#4,028
1950	10	#3,639
1945	6	#4,498
1940	5	#4,962
1935	–	–
1930	7	#4,003
1925	8	#3,991
1920	13	#2,715
1915	18	#1,876
1910	5	#2,746
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	7	#1,413
1890	5	#1,510
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Sylvania?

The median living Sylvania is about 67 years old. Half of all living Sylvanias are between 56 and 74 years old.

How many people named Sylvania are alive today?

An estimated 200 people named Sylvania are alive in the United States, based on 546 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Sylvania mean?

From sylvan (“silva, forest”) +‎ -ia (suffix forming placenames).

How popular is the name Sylvania in 2025?

Sylvania did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Sylvania?

546 babies have been named Sylvania in the United States since 1881, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Sylvania most popular?

Sylvania peaked in 1915, when 18 newborns received the name.

Is Sylvania a boy or girl name?

Sylvania is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Sylvania rising or falling?

Sylvania has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Sylvania

Sylvania popularity over time

The story of Sylvania

How old are people named Sylvania?

Sylvania year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Sylvania