French speakers: is Sylvie really bad?

[Eleanor90]

We love Sylvie for DD coming in a few months, but have heard that it’s considered really naff and dated in France. Is this true? Or is it more of a neglected classic, like Sylvia here?

We’re not French but DD will have French-speaking cousins and extended family, so want it to work reasonably well in both.

TIA

[TheTeaFairy]

I love it! HTH

[CaMePlaitPas]

Not necessarily, it's just not "a la mode" at the moment over here, I think it was possibly a 60s name. If you like it bring it back! It's not naff.

[GinIsIn]

I don’t know if any under the age of 40, but I don’t think that makes it a bad name...

[villainousbroodmare]

Not French but like it a lot; I know one in her thirties who is lovely.

[aroomwithaperfectview]

Not naff but certainly dated.

[Airbiscuits]

Would it be the French equivalent of Barbara or Susan?

Or Karen or Deborah?

Or Emma, Claire or Sarah?

I'm curious

[LaDaronne]

It's very dated. The youngest one I know is early fifties and loathes it.

[LaDaronne]

Here you go, hit its peak in the early sixties: dataaddict.fr/prenoms/#sylvie-f

[Songsparrow]

I know several Sylvies, they are all in their forties. It would be unusual to meet a baby Sylvie but if you like it why not?

[BriocheBriocheBrioche]

I love it, as pp have said it’s a little dated over here but so is Florence and that is super popular in the UK.

[bellinisurge]

But there appear now to be plenty of baby Ethils and Enids and Esthers. Which, for an old git like me, are major pearl clutching old lady names.

[lynmilne65]

Love it

[Eleanor90]

Thanks all. I’m probably overthinking things, we don’t even see these relatives all that often, though they are close family so I don’t want them to be horrified at our choice!

Would you say Sylvie feels dated more in a Sharon (very tied to one era) or Sarah (classic but not currently very popular) or Sybil (vintage) way?

[StuckInTheMiddleWithJude]

If soon to be ds suddenly popped out as a dd he'd 100% be a Sylvie. You must use it as I'll never get to now. I absolutely love it 😍 definitely more a Sybil than a Sharon IMO

[lardass88]

I know a little sylvie! She's 6 now

[TatianaLarina]

It’s kind of Barbara/Deborah/Susan.

There are so many beautiful French girl’s names - Manon, Capucine, Apolline, Anaïs, Inès, Romane, Maëlys, Sigolène, Clémence.... Sylvie is comparatively drab.

[TatianaLarina]

More dated than vintage.

[DarlingNikita]

To my British ear it sounds lovely, and makes me think of the incredible Sylvie Guillem.

Does it matter that much how it'll work in France/French if you're not in France yourselves? I know you said you have French-speaking family, but YOU'RE the immediate family.

Relatives can like or dislike their family's names for many reasons; you can't legislate for everything. Call her whatever you like!

[Fruitcake13]

I think more vintage than dated. It's a beautiful name!

[LaDaronne]

If you look at the graph I posted upthread you'll see it's really tied to a specific vintage - women born in the early 60s whose parents were fans of Johnny Hallyday and Sylvie Vartan.

[Eleanor90]

Thanks LaDaronne, looks like quite the popularity spike! So maybe more of a Sharon or Tracy then

[Anm4]

My 8 year old niece is called sylvie 😊

[Jayteedee]

I have one, aged 2 and we absolutely adore it. Pretty but has some sass I think. If any French relatives sniff about it, remind them of the wonderful Sylvie Guillem, who is still at almost 50 a dancer, and also an activist.