Meaning: Its source is a Latin expression meaning "Woods."

Languages: This girl's name is used in German, Dutch, English and Italian.

Nicknames: Silvi

Variant Forms: Silva, Silvana, Slyvia and Silvestra

Non-English Forms: Sylvie and Sylwia

Popularity: The name Silvia ranked 972nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 459th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Narrative: Rhea Silvia was an ancient nature goddess, mother to the twin founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

Shakespeare used the name Silvia for the love interest in his play Two Gentlemen of Verona, probably intending to give the impression of a typical Italian girl. However, almost everything the Bard touched turned to English, and it has been regarded as a solidly English name ever since.

While the Silvia spelling is certainly more ancient, Sylvia has been preferred for the last two centuries.