Declining since 1985, #2,207 for boys today.
Popularity of Sylvester since 1880
Babies named Sylvester per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sylvester's real moment was 1901.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 796 |
| 1890s | 971 |
| 1900s | 1,343 |
| 1910s | 5,420 |
| 1920s | 6,861 |
| 1930s | 5,139 |
| 1940s | 5,361 |
| 1950s | 6,171 |
| 1960s | 3,840 |
| 1970s | 2,293 |
| 1980s | 2,018 |
| 1990s | 1,212 |
| 2000s | 735 |
| 2010s | 677 |
| 2020s | 393 |
Meaning & origin
Sylvester is a name with deep Latin roots, meaning 'of the forest.' It peaked in popularity in 1901 and has been declining since 1985, ranking 2207 in 2025 with a frequency of 1 in 26689 births. The name has historical ties to early Christian popes and remains a classic, if uncommon, choice. In recent decades, it has maintained a steady but low presence, mostly in states like Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York.
Derived from the Latin 'silvester' meaning 'of the forest' or 'wild', from 'silva' (forest, woodland). It was used as a Roman cognomen and later adopted by early Christians, notably Pope Sylvester I (4th century). The name became common in medieval Europe and has been used in English since the Middle Ages.
Where Sylvester is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sly, Vester, Syl
Sibling names for Sylvester
Names that share Sylvester's style, for a brother or sister.
