Boy
Sylvester
from the forest, wild
About Sylvester
Sylvester emerges from the shadows of pop culture associations to reveal itself as a name of remarkable substance and character. This distinguished choice carries an old-world charm that's experiencing a well-deserved renaissance among parents who appreciate vintage names with genuine staying power. The three syllables create a stately rhythm, while the combination of soft and strong consonants gives it remarkable depth. Sylvester possesses an intellectual quality, evoking images of library corners and thoughtful conversations, yet it's robust enough for any athletic field or adventure. The name has literary gravitas, appearing throughout classic literature and historical records, connecting your child to a lineage of notable bearers. What many parents overlook is Sylvester's versatility—it shortens beautifully to Sly or Syl for more casual moments while maintaining its full formality when needed. In choosing Sylvester, parents select a name that grows with their child, offering sophistication without pretension.
Popularity of the Name Sylvester
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #153 | |
| 1881 | #161 | |
| 1882 | #183 | |
| 1883 | #177 | |
| 1884 | #201 | |
| 1885 | #164 | |
| 1886 | #187 | |
| 1887 | #179 | |
| 1888 | #180 | |
| 1889 | #127 | |
| 1890 | #153 | |
| 1891 | #197 | |
| 1892 | #162 | |
| 1893 | #170 | |
| 1894 | #152 | |
| 1895 | #158 | |
| 1896 | #149 | |
| 1897 | #144 | |
| 1898 | #148 | |
| 1899 | #163 | |
| 1900 | #160 | |
| 1901 | #139 | |
| 1902 | #141 | |
| 1903 | #156 | |
| 1904 | #155 | |
| 1905 | #162 | |
| 1906 | #159 | |
| 1907 | #149 | |
| 1908 | #143 | |
| 1909 | #164 | |
| 1910 | #156 | |
| 1911 | #154 | |
| 1912 | #167 | |
| 1913 | #157 | |
| 1914 | #164 | |
| 1915 | #163 | |
| 1916 | #172 | |
| 1917 | #175 | |
| 1918 | #172 | |
| 1919 | #173 | |
| 1920 | #174 | |
| 1921 | #185 | |
| 1922 | #194 | |
| 1923 | #191 | |
| 1924 | #198 | |
| 1925 | #204 | |
| 1926 | #201 | |
| 1927 | #218 | |
| 1928 | #221 | |
| 1929 | #224 | |
| 1930 | #217 | |
| 1931 | #226 | |
| 1932 | #216 | |
| 1933 | #232 | |
| 1934 | #232 | |
| 1935 | #224 | |
| 1936 | #237 | |
| 1937 | #244 | |
| 1938 | #237 | |
| 1939 | #244 | |
| 1940 | #258 | |
| 1941 | #237 | |
| 1942 | #267 | |
| 1943 | #272 | |
| 1944 | #251 | |
| 1945 | #258 | |
| 1946 | #278 | |
| 1947 | #282 | |
| 1948 | #271 | |
| 1949 | #278 | |
| 1950 | #256 | |
| 1951 | #266 | |
| 1952 | #281 | |
| 1953 | #276 | |
| 1954 | #278 | |
| 1955 | #283 | |
| 1956 | #297 | |
| 1957 | #312 | |
| 1958 | #318 | |
| 1959 | #327 | |
| 1960 | #347 | |
| 1961 | #349 | |
| 1962 | #373 | |
| 1963 | #374 | |
| 1964 | #406 | #188 |
| 1965 | #398 | #156 |
| 1966 | #424 | #228 |
| 1967 | #440 | #194 |
| 1968 | #470 | #205 |
| 1969 | #499 | #212 |
| 1970 | #516 | #204 |
| 1971 | #475 | #341 |
| 1972 | #531 | #251 |
| 1973 | #503 | #225 |
| 1974 | #576 | #238 |
| 1975 | #546 | #318 |
| 1976 | #590 | #256 |
| 1977 | #571 | |
| 1978 | #562 | #382 |
| 1979 | #541 | |
| 1980 | #615 | |
| 1981 | #584 | #259 |
| 1982 | #584 | #378 |
| 1983 | #630 | #374 |
| 1984 | #586 | |
| 1985 | #633 | |
| 1986 | #635 | |
| 1987 | #653 | |
| 1988 | #666 | |
| 1989 | #709 | #358 |
| 1990 | #712 | #385 |
| 1991 | #902 | |
| 1993 | #898 | |
| 1994 | #962 | |
| 1992 | #332 |
Top names by country: United States · Ireland
Variations of Name Sylvester
- Silvester
- Sylvestir
- Silvestir
- Sylvestre
- Silvestre
- Sylvestar
- Silvestar
- Sylvistur
- Sylvestyr
- Sylvister
Names Similar to Sylvester
Nicknames for Sylvester
- Sly
- Vester
- Syl
- Sylve
Famous People Named Sylvester
| Sylvester Stallone | American actor and filmmaker |
| Sylvester McCoy | Scottish actor known for his role as the Seventh Doctor in "Doctor Who" |
| Sylvester Turner | American politician and Mayor of Houston, Texas |
| Sylvester Graham | American dietary reformer and inventor of graham crackers |
| Sylvester Croom | Former American football player and coach |
| Sylvester Ritter | Junkyard Dog - Professional wrestler |
| Silvestre Varela | Portuguese footballer |
| Silvestre Reyes | American politician and former U.S. Representative from Texas |
| Silvestre de Sousa | Brazilian jockey |
| Silvester I of Rome | Pope of the Catholic Church - 314–335 AD |
| Silvester Mazzolini | Italian Dominican theologian and philosopher |
| Silvestre Revueltas | Mexican composer and violinist |
| Silvano Espíndola | Paraguayan footballer |
| Silvano Alves | Brazilian professional bull rider |
| Silvestre Piolo | Filipino actor and singer |
| Sylvester Clarke | Barbadian cricketer |
| Sylvester Mowry | American mining engineer and politician |
| Silvano Arieti | Italian-American psychiatrist and psychologist |
| Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II | Sly5thAve - American musician and composer |
Characters Named Sylvester
| Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. | Sylvester the Cat - Looney Tunes character |
| Sylvester Sneekly | The Hooded Claw - Character from "The Perils of Penelope Pitstop" |
| Sylvester Pemberton | Star-Spangled Kid - DC Comics superhero |
| Sylvester McMonkey McBean | Dr. Seuss character from "The Sneetches" |
| Sylvester Coddmyer III | Sly - Main character in the book "The Westing Game" by Ellen Raskin |
| Sylvester Todd | Sly - Character in the video game "Sly Cooper" |
| Sylvester Shyster | Disney character, a crooked lawyer in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit" |
| Sylvester "Sly" Paulson | Character in the TV show "Wings" |
| Sylvester Valchek | Character in the TV show "The Wire" |
| Sylvester Kuo | Character in the webcomic "Ava's Demon" |
| Sylvester J. Pussycat Jr. | Son of Sylvester the Cat in Looney Tunes |
| Sylvester Lefort | Character in the TV show "NXT" |
| Sylvester "Sly" Boots | Character in the video game "Anachronox" |
| Sylvester Dodd | Character in the TV show "Numbers" |