Baby girl name - too old ladyish?

[andres42]

Hi all,

currently pregnant with my second, and I originally really loved the name Sylvie. I thought it was quite unique and sweet. Everyone now keeps telling me it's an old lady name... which is starting to put me off a bit!

My daughter has now absolutely decided that the baby is called Sylvie, even if we offer alternatives. So I guess it's stuck now? I just don't want to name my baby something that people will think is awful! Especially as the middle names will be quite old fashioned too (both the babies Great Grandmothers names).

The other name I really loved was Josie.

I know a baby Sylvie and it’s quite a popular suggestion on mn. It’s a name on the rise.

Sylvie is a lovely name

Josie unfortunately reminds me of the Drew Barrymore "Josie Grossie" character in Never Been Kissed

i despise old names for babies but I think Sylvie is quite sweet! Not Sylvia though

Love it! Work inna school and don't know of any little Sylvies. Loads of Margots coming through the system and that is an old lady name imo.

I love that name. I dont like Sylvia but love Silvie.

I've got one! She's 8. Best name ever.

It was generally well received when she was a baby. Lots of compliments.

I think Sylvie is really lovely, not a name I've heard in my nearly two decades teaching. I had a few Josie friends who would be the same age as me (40) so to me its one of those Sharon, Sally, Samantha type names. I have taught a Josie though who would be about 14 now. Funnily enough, my daughter is Josephine but we don't ever shorten it to Josie.

Sylvie is not old lady-ish at all.

Sylvie is gorgeous! It's not an 'old lady' name, but a current one. Stop telling other people your name choices and stop listening to other peoples' opinions (she says, giving her opinion... I mean not in real life).

I much prefer Sylvie over Josie.

Beautiful

Sylvia is gorgeous.

Adore Sylvie. Very pretty with a chic vibe to me. Not at all “Old Lady” unless you live in France, where admittedly it is dated - probably the equivalent something like Susan would be here. Sylvie is the opposite of dated in the UK, it’s actually a bit trendy (but luckily hasn’t made the Top 100 yet). People are looking for the new Evie and Sylvie has a similar vibe so it’s very much on the up.

If you aren’t in France, I’m assuming your relatives are thinking of SylviA, which admittedly is more usually heard on very elderly women. In another decade or so I think it will make a huge comeback though and be the new Ada, Elsie or Mabel. Sylvia is a pretty name with interesting namesakes that will come around again.

ETA: Josie sounds very “cute” in comparison to Sylvie or Sylvia, so is not my taste as a given name. It’s pretty enough but doesn’t have their elegance imo- Josephine does much more, if you’d consider the longer version.

Sylvie is a beautiful name but it's getting increasingly popular because of Emily in Paris.

I think Sylvia is old lady, but I’ve always loved Sylvie, it’s gorgeous and a different vibe entirely.
Don’t like Josie. It’s dull in comparison.

Sylvie is very nice! Also like Josie if short for Josephine.

I think it's a beautiful name, and timeless

Love Sylvie!

I think in France it’s considered not so much “old lady” as dated in a Debbie/Karen/Christine kind of way. Doesn’t come across that way here though ime

@OP Sylvie is sweet, and unusual, I think it would be a lovely name! Josie/ Josephine I find quite boring. We have three in my daughter's reception year so it seems to be having a moment. It feels like the new Sarah 😂

Lots of Sylvies around where I am. It’s nice enough but I prefer Sylvia.

I have a 3yo Sylvia - I thought then she would have the option of being Sylvie or Sylvia.

I’m surprised people think it’s common - I’m a primary school teacher and now have a second child so spend a lot of time around toddler and baby groups, soft play etc and have never met another small one! It’s not in the top 100 names either.

But don’t worry about it being an old lady name - a typical group of toddlers sounds like an old
people’s home these days - the other day Sylvia was hanging out with Mabel, Florence and Joan!

Definitely not unique if that’s what you are going for but if you like it go for it.

It’s a beaut of a name, great choice. I wanted it but DH said no, I would have used Sylvanna nn Sylvie

I like Sylvie!

It's it's not an old lady name at all and is actually on the ascent in the UK.

Sylvia however, I never liked, but Sylvie is lovely for today, and for when your DD is grown up too!

I love it!

I think It’s a pretty name. Prefer it to Josie. Go for it if you like it. From experience I wouldn’t talk to people before the baby’s born about names. People tend to be rather too free in their opinions in that period.