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Baby names

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Sylvia or Celia?

39 replies

Firebird83 · 17/04/2026 17:48

Which do you prefer?

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Peanutlicious · 26/04/2026 15:40

Celia

Pemba · 26/04/2026 13:52

Sylvia is lovely. It's a beautiful name, meaning, classic, features in literature etc. Yes it was also popular 80+ years ago, there are some old ladies named Sylvia, so what? Some posters need to get over their prejudices about names and stop being quite so sheep like about fashions in names.

'Ooh no, I know grannies called Sylvia, uurgh! - Sylvie though, that's lovely'. What an original thought! You only think that because Sylvie is the French version of Sylvie and therefore less familiar to you, you probably don't know older women named Sylvie.
Meanwhile in France they think Sylvie is a middle aged name apparently. Again, so what?

So yes Sylvia, although Celia is also nice, but I prefer Cecilia.

timoteigirl · 26/04/2026 11:40

Silvia or Sylvie. Woods all the way.

ToadRage · 26/04/2026 11:23

I prefer Celia. Haven't met one since childhood but always liked it. I briefly went to school with a Sylvia she was Spanish and barely spoke English, she was a nove girl but only managed a year before the language barrier became too much trouble.

Ophir · 26/04/2026 11:12

I love them both, pretty and unusual now, but normal names

I think on balance I’d pick Sylvia

Brownbear8 · 26/04/2026 11:11

I love the name Celia, gorgeous meaning and lovely nickname potential especially Cece.

I prefer Sylvie to Sylvia but in my opinion they pale in comparison to Celia.

user1492757084 · 26/04/2026 09:50

Celia

Cicely Mary Barker was a genius.

RegalDiamondMonster · 18/04/2026 11:06

Sylvia. Both good names though.

Bambalama · 18/04/2026 10:17

I like both, very much, and Sylvia was on my list for a girl 🥰

Talipesmum · 18/04/2026 07:44

Really love Sylvia - would have been a top choice for us if we had had girls. I love it from Sylvia in the wolves of willoughby chase. I like the sylvan - woodland association.

rainingsnoring · 18/04/2026 04:47

I love the name Celia, also Cecilia and Cecily. I like Sylvia but prefer the Italian Silvia spelling and also Sylvie.
Both Celia and Silvia have Latin roots and also both were used by Shakespeare, which is a very positive thing in my opionion.

socialdontcare · 17/04/2026 22:45

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Giraffehaver · 17/04/2026 22:35

Sylvia. It was a strong contender for us

RaininSummer · 17/04/2026 22:32

Does it matter if a name hasn't made a come back yet? If you like them use them a s somebody has to go first to start a name coming back. If it matters I prefer Sylvia out of your choices.

AgentPidge · 17/04/2026 22:26

Sylvia. It's to do with trees.

I worked with a British Celia at a French company. She got fed up with agreeing that her name does indeed sound like "if there is" in French. So maybe a reason to avoid it!

user2848502016 · 17/04/2026 22:25

Sylvia
But prefer Sylvie to both

Bunnyofhope · 17/04/2026 22:21

Sylvia is by far better.

PurpleNightingale · 17/04/2026 22:19

Celia with nn Cece is so cute!

gettingbyalready · 17/04/2026 22:16

Celia

FettleOfKish · 17/04/2026 21:10

I love Sylvia (because of an 80+ year old relative) and we may well have used it as a middle name if DS had been a girl.

Calliopespa · 17/04/2026 21:08

LilyLemonade · 17/04/2026 19:08

They are both pretty and retro. I prefer Celia, I think it's very elegant.

I also like Anthea in the same vein.

Actually Anthea is surely due a comeback with all the Theas around at present.

It has a really pretty meaning too.

OP, I like Celia better, but like Cecelia or Cecily even more.

Daffodilsinthespring · 17/04/2026 19:31

Love both. Prob Sylvia tops it

AntiHop · 17/04/2026 19:15

Definitely Sylivia and definitely with a y.

I very, very nearly called dd2 Sylvia. At the last minute, I chose my second choice as I decided it was a better match with dd1.

ComeOnPhilEarlySpringPlease · 17/04/2026 19:12

Yep. Agree with the others - Sylvie or CeCe NN for Cecily. Yours are for Grandmas and although I know some older names have made a comeback, I don't think those two have yet.

LoudPlumDog · 17/04/2026 19:09

Prefer Sylvie