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Sylvie

Girl name · 169 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sylvie: 169 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 19 births in 2025.

A name of French origin, Sylvie is the elegant Gallic form of the Latin Silvia, derived from *silva* meaning “forest” or “woodland,” evoking a gentle, natural grace. Among its notable bearers are French singing star Sylvie Vartan, a pop icon of the 1960s, and Sylvie Guillem, the revolutionary ballet dancer who redefined classical movement. While no major place bears the name directly, Sylvie shares its woodland root with the Roman god Silvanus and the vast forests of Pennsylvania (which literally means “Penn’s woods”). In literature, Lewis Carroll gave the name to the gentle fairy princess in his novel *Sylvie and Bruno*, and it remains a softer, more romantic alternative to the more widespread Sylvia, beloved for its air of effortless chic.