Short for Princess Rhea Silvia, the mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome.
"The ancient statue was labeled simply as Sylvia to honor her identity as the legendary nursemaid of Romulus and Remus."
The name Sylvia comes from the Latin word silva, meaning "forest." It entered English as a feminine form inspired by Rhea Silvia, who in mythology gave birth to Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome.