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Sylvester

“Wooded or wild; of the forest” — Latin origin

Boy's name · #2207 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Sylvester has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #126 (1889) · 43,230 babies named Sylvester all-time · 1 in 25,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 8,300 boys in Sweden (2025) · about 1 in 16,000 boys in Canada (2024).

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 5 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Famous Sylvesters

• Sylvester Stallone — American actor and filmmaker (born 1946)
• Sylvester I — 33rd pope and saint (reigned 314-335)
• Sylvester II — Pope of the Catholic Church from 938 to 1003
• Sylvester III — pope
• Sylvester McCoy — Scottish actor (born 1943)

In stories & tradition

• Sylvester — Looney Tunes
• Sylvester Shyster — Mickey Mouse universe
• Sylvester Junior — Pop 'Im Pop! · Who's Kitten Who?

What Sylvesters become

Among 296 notable people named Sylvester:

Political leaders appear 1.4× more often than among typical names — e.g. Sylvester Turner, American attorney, politician (1954–2025).

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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