Geraldine vs Sylvia
Geraldine and Sylviacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Geraldine was ranked #5927 and Sylvia #426 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Geraldine was ranked #896 and Sylvia #436 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Geraldine and Sylvia over time
Geraldine and Sylvia appear together in 2 published lists, across 72 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Geraldine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sylvia in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Longest-running competitions
Geraldine and Sylvia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #896 and #436.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1964–2018
Geraldine held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sylvia in 7.
Highest recorded here: Geraldine #7 in 1965, Sylvia #111 in 1972.
The order changed in 2007: Sylvia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #502 and #550; by 2007 that had become #705 and #549.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Geraldine #896, Sylvia #436.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2025
Geraldine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sylvia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Geraldine #848 in 1996, Sylvia #426 in 2025.
The order changed in 2002: Sylvia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #1170 and #1359; by 2002 that had become #2301 and #920.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Geraldine #5927, Sylvia #426.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Geraldine
Pairs where Geraldine shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elizabeth vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #6 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2021 they were #89 and #883.
Elizabeth · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Catherine vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #2 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2021 they were #190 and #883.
Catherine · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Margaret vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #3 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2021 they were #190 and #883.
Margaret · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Bridget vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #8 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2021 they were #228 and #883.
Bridget · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Geraldine | Sylvia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5927 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #426 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Geraldine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sylvia.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Geraldine
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #9 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2021
Highest recorded position: #7 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2021).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sylvia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #194 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #111 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #426 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls