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Baby names

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Original poster

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

53 replies

mosaica · 17/04/2012 10:59

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.

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Ilovedaintynuts · 21/04/2012 12:38

I like it better without the silent f.

WithACherryOnTop · 21/04/2012 12:36

It's lovely. I prefer Sylvie but Sylvia is great too.

Schlumberger · 20/04/2012 15:44

Sylvia, Sylvia, Sylvia ...... Such a beautiful name to say out loud in English. I have a Polish friend with this name (well spelled with a W at least) and she is so classy and clever and looks a lot like Grace Kelly, so it has a very positive association in my mind.

Queenofcake · 20/04/2012 15:40

Sylvia is very pretty imo!

butterybiscuitbass · 20/04/2012 15:38

How rude of your neighbour! Don't base your choice on the reaction of a narrow minded acquaintance. It's lovely btw.

nizlopi · 19/04/2012 20:47

I love Sylvia, its on my list :D

MarySA · 19/04/2012 19:36

I think the name Sylvia is lovely. I know an elderly lady called that. I hope it has a revival.

miaowmix · 19/04/2012 19:05

Beautiful, in all variations, and it works in many languages.

BBQJuly · 19/04/2012 19:01

Silvina is a nice variation too.

badtime · 19/04/2012 17:52

I also like the Italian spelling, Silvia.

JuliaScurr · 19/04/2012 17:51

Love it! Look up Sylvia Pankhurst = great woman

GirlWithALlamaTattoo · 19/04/2012 17:47

I think it's beautiful and would use it if only I could persuade DP.

(I did have a dinner lady called Sylvia but she was nice)

Also a lovely great-aunt. And I knew a lovely hippy called Silva years ago, which I liked.

anewmotivatedme · 19/04/2012 17:41

It's a beauty of a name. I love it.

dizzy77 · 19/04/2012 04:01

I think it is lovely, agree with those upthread that it's due a revival, next generation on from all the Esme/Rose/Martha etc names that are popular (but not too popular!) right now.

I don't have negative dinner lady etc connotations but I am also now singing Sylvia's Mother by Dr Hook.

mathanxiety · 19/04/2012 03:37

Lovely, elegant name. I know Sylvias from my mum's generation, from mine and from the DCs' generation, three in all. Unusual but really nice imo.

pluckingupcourage · 19/04/2012 02:07

plantsitter no, the lovely Sylvia calmed me down and called an ambulance and then followed me to the hospital, she kept trying to reach my DH, then when he arrived, she made a quiet exit. She went completely out of her way. We send each other Christmas cards still and she's met DS2. Unfortunately as I have a male household I haven't been able to use the name.

Psammead · 18/04/2012 12:23

What a mean reaction!

I think it is a bit in the 60-70 year olds age category, which is the next due a revival.

You'll be setting a trend Smile

plantsitter · 18/04/2012 12:00

I had a lovely great aunt called Sylvia. I like it very much.

Pluckingupcourage: sorry to hijack, but what happened? Did you have the baby at the services?

tiredcupcakes · 18/04/2012 11:56

I too had a dinner lady with that name when I was younger, both at primary and secondary school lol. She was a nasty horrible fat lady with a bald head... abit like the teacher in Matilda.. only bald.

Abcinthia · 18/04/2012 11:52

It's lovely. It's one of the names I considered for DD, but DP didn't like it.

WatneyShed · 18/04/2012 11:38

It's lovely. Sylvie is pretty but a little frilly - I much prefer Sylvia.

cory · 17/04/2012 23:29

I think it could well be a name that is ready for a come-back. And it's lovely.

kickingKcurlyC · 17/04/2012 20:29

I love it. It doesn't have any funny connotations as far as I can think of!

Takver · 17/04/2012 19:14

I think it is lovely and would have liked it for dd (dh didn't like). I think Sylvia is an good, strong, elegant name for a grown up, and also like the shortening Sylvie for a little girl.

gafhyb · 17/04/2012 19:05

It's lovely

I like Sylvie too