Sylvia
A Roman feminine name meaning “of the woods” or “from the forest.”
The #5,977 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 53,639 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Sylvia is the feminine form of Latin Sylvius, from silva, meaning “wood” or “forest.” In that sense, the name literally means “of the woods” or “woodland woman.” It was used in ancient Rome and later revived in learned and literary naming traditions.
History
In Roman legend, Sylvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus, which helped keep the name visible in classical tradition. Later, the name was taken up in pastoral and poetic literature, where it suited shepherdess and country-girl imagery. It has also been used as a given name in English-speaking countries, though it is less common than the spelling Sylvia with an i.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same Latin root also appears in names like Sylvan and Sylvester, all ultimately linked to woods or forests.
From the historical record
“SYLVESTER. Another spelling of Silvester, q. v. SYLVIA. The Roman name ; a feminine of Sylvius. Sylvia was the name of Ilia, mother of Romulus. I 114 PR^NOMIXA. SYLVIUS. The Roman name, from sylva, a wood. Sylvius was the name of the brother of Ascanius, so called from being born in the woods. From him the kings of…”
— Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland