Sylvester
Boy name · #2207 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sylvester? In official American birth records, Sylvester has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
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. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sylvester against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sylvester in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sylvester is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sylvester will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sylvester is most common
State-level data for Sylvester is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
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
How old is the name Sylvester?
In official American birth records, the name Sylvester first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 89 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
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. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.