What do you think o fSylvia as a girl's name?

[mosaica]

Hi,

I am pregnant with a baby girl and I am considering the name Sylvia for her. I am not British and one of the reasons I like this name is because it also sounds great in my language. But when my husband told our next door neighbour this was the name we had in mind, she bursted out laughing, I think she thought we were joking...

Is this perhaps a hideous name in English? I know how all names have connotations and in my language it sounds lovely. I know it sounds a bit old-fashioned in English, but I thought it was in a good way?

Please be honest, do say it is horrible if that's the case. I don't want my little girl to be picked on at school!

Thanks.

[DogEared]

Sylvia is noce. fSylvia is a bit weird :o

[DogEared]

Hahahaaaa! That bit me on the arse, didn't it?? I meant nice :o

[HollyGoHeavily]

Sylvia is lovely :) It's possibly a little old fashioned, but not in a bad way....

[HollyGoHeavily]

Sylvie is also a gorgeous name and possible a bit more contemporary (if you are worried about that sort of thing)...

[MagsAloof]

I love it. It is an old fashioned name but I bet it will come back in to fashion, as it is such a lovely name.

I know a few baby girls called Sylvie.

[ripsishere]

I don't like it, but I have associations of horrible dinner ladies.

[Jess850]

I actually really like it :-)

[mosaica]

Risisphere, why the association? Is it a "dinner lady"-type of name?

[squoosh]

I love Sylvia. I think it's quite glamorous without being frilly (I hate frilly). It will travel well too, always a positive.

It's a strong beautiful name. Do it! I'd love to meet a little girl called Sylvia.

[BBQJuly]

Sylvia is a lovely name :)

[flipflopper]

It is lovely, really pretty, love Sylvie too.
My dh wouldnt consider it though.

[Agamumnon]

I think it's beautiful and due a revival. It's great in lots of languages.

[minipie]

It's lovely, and has no horrid connotations. I can't think why your neighbour would have laughed .

It's a little bit old fashioned but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

[night1971]

It's a really pretty name, some might find it a bit "adventurous" but then they choose boring safe names. I have it on my list and have yet to meet a little Sylvia. It looks pretty written down too. Take no notice of your neighbour, ask her what her children are called, you may not like her taste! Lovely name.

[eyeeyeippy]

I love this name, and would have it on the shortlist for dc3, but I KNOW my husband wouldn't go for it. The problem you may encounter is that people from our mothers' generation will associate it with old ladies, but I think it is gorgeous and has a lovely meaning too.

[HandMadeTail]

I love it, and wish I had used it!

[louisdog]

I think it's really pretty, and nice and unusual as well.

[SoFarWeAreEqual]

I think Sylvia is a really pretty name. Sylvie is also lovely

[Pixieonthemoor]

I think it's lovely and Sylvie is also fab. I suppose it is a little too recent to be due for a revival yet poss hence the neighbours laughter and the dinner lady comment - I know a couple and they are both in their 50's/60's so not falling into the old lady category yet iykwim.

[snapcruncher]

i like it. i know a very nice Spanish girl called Sylvia and it reminds me of her. :)

the only other one i know is probably around 50 too.

[lynniep]

I like Sylvie, but Sylvia is not bad - it just sounds a bit middle aged to my ears. However I think it could grow on me as a baby name

[yellowflowers]

love it

[sonniboo]

Sylvia is beautiful. It is a very elegant, beautiful name in German. I don't understand the 'dinner lady' connotation at all...

[GRW]

It's lovely, and unusual for a baby. I prefer it to Sylvie.