Sylvie is the French form of Sylvia, which comes from the Latin silva and means "forest" or "of the woods". It has long been a classic in France and now appeals to American parents as a softer, more playful alternative to Sylvia. In the United States Sylvie only entered the top 1000 in 2016 and has risen fast since, from number 1181 in 2015 to 282 in 2025, its best rank so far.