Comments on: Name of the Day: Sylvia

By: sarahlizz3

sarahlizz3 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:32:57 +0000

There is also a short story “A White Heron” whose main character is named Sylvia. She’s an 11(?) year old girl and the protector of the forest. That story is considered literary cannon (often studied in lit classes) and what originally put me on to the name. The character, Sylvia, is sweet. kind, and still powerful.

I think I’m going to go with Sylvie though, because like Sarah, I’m a bit francophile in my name tastes (I prefer Sophie to Sophia as well).

By: sarahlizz3

sarahlizz3 — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 13:23:36 +0000

Re: “I think Sylvie is a cute nickname, but I wouldn’t really want to see it come back on its own. I can’t stand Sylvie and Sophie as given names. They’re nicknames!”

They aren’t nicknames – they are the French versions of those names.

By: Silvia Li

Silvia Li — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:19:27 +0000

Hello this is Silvia. I never knew that Silvia is such an old lady in American ears! I am 21 and I do have a friend Sylvia who is one month older than me.
I am Chinese hence my name Silvia was not picked by my parents to be written on the birth certificate. I picked it myself when I was in grade seven or eight and I always love it! I came to the states three years ago for college and have had so much complements for my name =] However, I do feel that Americans are a little bit surprised when I tell them to spell it as s-i-l-via instead of s-y-l-via. Frankly speaking, I didn’t know that there is a more common spelling with the y when I pick the name. I did feel a little bad in the past three years about the uncommon spelling but now I LOVE it, choosing “more ancient” over “more common”=]! I wouldn’t mind being imagined as a more sophisticated lady older than I am LOL.
Regarding nn, my boyfriend calls me Sil. Yes, it’s a little bit weird for Chinese couple to call each other by English name-.- But I do love it. And my boyfriend actually prohibits anyone else from calling me Sil LOL

By: Sarah

Sarah — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 01:36:30 +0000

My 15mo DD is Sylvie. I have yet to be asked if it is a NN for Sylvia. Instead, most people look at me like I have three heads and ask me to repeat it. I always just say it’s like Sylvia with an -e. That always clears things right up. I chose it because a) I tend to be a francophile when it comes to names, and b) I find it effervescent and sweet, but not cloying.

By: appellationmountain

appellationmountain — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 22:52:40 +0000

That’s true, Expectant Mom. But I think this is one of those issues like Caitlin. Yes, it is the most authentic spelling – but use it, and you’ll hear “Oh, what an interesting spelling! I’ve never seen Kaitlyn with a C before!” Or try to convince someone that Aubrey and Avery are boys’ names when they’re both so popular for girls …

Sylvie stands nicely on her own because, as you say, she’s a perfectly legit choice in French. But just like there are plenty of girls christened Sophia and called Sophie, I think we’ll see girls named Sylvia and called Sylvie. It might not be technically correct, but that’s only a tiny part of the picture in how we use given names.

I know more than one Julia who answers to Julie …

By: expectant mom

expectant mom — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 21:36:11 +0000

Sylvie is not a nickname for Sylvia anymore than Olivier is not a nickname for Oliver; it is simply the French form of the name. Maybe in the U.S. people are not accustomed to hearing (totally legitimate) French forms of names.

By: March Madness: Girls’ Opening Round | Appellation Mountain

March Madness: Girls’ Opening Round | Appellation Mountain — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 17:06:28 +0000

[...] enchanting Isla (1) versus the retro Sylvia (16) View This Pollsurvey [...]

By: szilvi

szilvi — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 12:01:34 +0000

LOL you think Sylvia is old lady- like but Viola Pearl Jane and Pearl not ?…..

By: silvia

silvia — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 11:52:32 +0000

wow i didn’t know that my name meand all these things now i know why i like nature !in the beginings i didn’t like my name cuz nobody knew or have it but now i like it cuz its special !

By: smismar

smismar — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 23:17:52 +0000

And A.M. it’s funny you mention the name Jason above as normal… that is my husband’s name! LOL!