Sylvester
Sylvester: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /sɪlˈvɛstɚ/
Meaning and origin of Sylvester
Root meaning: “woody, rural”
- A male given name from Latin used in English since the sixteenth century.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin sylvester (“woody, rural”) from silva (“wood”); name of a saint whose feast day falls on December 31.
How popular is Sylvester?
Since 1880, 627 girls and 43,230 boys in the U.S. have been named Sylvester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1162 in 1904. Its highest rank for boys was #127 in 1889. In 2025, 64 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Names similar to Sylvester
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
Sylvester FAQ
What does the name Sylvester mean?
Sylvester traces back to a root meaning "woody, rural". A male given name from Latin used in English since the sixteenth century. Borrowed from Latin sylvester (“woody, rural”) from silva (“wood”); name of a saint whose feast day falls on December 31.
What is the origin of the name Sylvester?
Sylvester is listed as a name of Latin used in English since the sixteent origin.
How popular is the name Sylvester?
Since 1880, 627 girls and 43,230 boys in the U.S. have been named Sylvester (1% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1162 in 1904. Its highest rank for boys was #127 in 1889. In 2025, 64 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Sylvester a boy or girl name?
Sylvester is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 627 girls and 43,230 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.