Grace vs Sylvia
Grace 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #3 and Sylvia #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #13 and Sylvia #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Grace was ranked #25 and Sylvia #625 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Grace was ranked #503 and Sylvia #529 among girls in Norway.
Grace and Sylvia over time
Grace and Sylvia appear together in 3 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Grace held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sylvia in 1.
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.
Grace reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Sylvia in 1. 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1978, Grace moved ahead of Sylvia in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #141 and #141 the year before became #107 and #162.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Grace and Sylvia changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1946 and 2025, ending at #503 and #529.
- Longest-running competitions
Grace and Sylvia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 40 years, from 1946 to 2025, ending at #503 and #529.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #118 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #898.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1964–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Sylvia in 5.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2023, Sylvia #111 in 1972.
The order changed in 1978: Grace moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #141 and #141; by 1978 that had become #107 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #3, Sylvia #898.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1946–2025
Grace held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sylvia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Grace #321 in 1959, Sylvia #134 in 1977.
The order changed in 1997: Grace moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #630 and #554; by 1997 that had become #502 and #531.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Grace #503, Sylvia #529.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Grace held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sylvia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Grace #1 in 2006, Sylvia #461 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Grace #25, Sylvia #625.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Grace | Sylvia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Grace, favour (the English virtue word, used directly as a name). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English (virtue name), from Latin gratia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɡɹeɪs/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Gracie | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #4 (2025) | Norway · Girls #529 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Grace has a recorded origin (English (virtue name), from Latin gratia); Sylvia does not have one recorded yet.
- Grace and Sylvia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Grace; Sylvia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Grace a "high" Data Confidence level and Sylvia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Grace
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #393 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #529 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls