Sylvester
Boy name · #2207 in 2025 · Uniqueness 66/100
In 2025, 64 baby boys were named Sylvester, placing it at #2207 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1983, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 28,125 boys born in 2025 was named Sylvester.
The 145-year story
Sylvester first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 89 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1920, when 807 boys were named Sylvester — good for #174 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sylvester per year, 1880–2025. Source: SSA.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sylvester against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sylvester in class?
Sylvester scores 66 out of 100 on our uniqueness scale, which blends current rarity with five-year momentum — putting it in the "distinctive" band. That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Sylvester is most common
Geography matters for names, and Sylvester is no exception. In 2025 the states with the most Sylvesters were CA (9), FL (6), NY (5), PA (5). Raw counts naturally favor populous states, but the spread still hints at where the name is part of the local naming culture.
Names like Sylvester
Statistically, parents drawn to Sylvester tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Chester, Lester, Luther, Clarence, and Edmond.
ChesterLesterLutherClarenceEdmondHermanSalvatoreSidney
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sylvester | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 64 | #2207 |
| 2024 | 71 | #2098 |
| 2023 | 67 | #2147 |
| 2022 | 71 | #2094 |
| 2021 | 68 | #2109 |
| 2020 | 52 | #2467 |
| 2019 | 74 | #1974 |
| 2018 | 66 | #2122 |
| 2017 | 67 | #2065 |
| 2016 | 67 | #2086 |
| 2015 | 73 | #1983 |
| 2014 | 75 | #1920 |
| 2013 | 76 | #1866 |
| 2012 | 57 | #2270 |
| 2011 | 60 | #2173 |
| 2010 | 62 | #2144 |
| 2009 | 67 | #2050 |
| 2008 | 67 | #2062 |
| 2007 | 62 | #2164 |
| 2006 | 77 | #1790 |
| 2005 | 67 | #1889 |
| 2004 | 64 | #1911 |
| 2003 | 83 | #1538 |
| 2002 | 78 | #1571 |
| 2001 | 80 | #1514 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sylvester a popular boy name?
Sylvester ranked #2207 among boys in 2025 with 64 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1983.
When was the name Sylvester most popular?
Sylvester peaked in 1920, when 807 American boys received the name (ranked #174 that year). Since 1920 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sylvester?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 28,125 newborn American boys was named Sylvester. It scores 66/100 on our uniqueness scale (rarity blended with momentum), which we classify as "distinctive".
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration name statistics, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect Social Security card applications; names with fewer than 5 occurrences in a state-year are suppressed by the SSA.