Boy name · Latin
Sylvester
“of the forest, wooded”
Vibes
Common nicknames
Short-forms and diminutives parents often use for Sylvester.
Explore Sylvester further
Similar-feel alternatives, or middle-name candidates that pair well with Sylvester — both ranked by the same scoring system (vibe overlap, syllable rhythm, origin compatibility).
About the name
Sylvester is Latin silvestris, of the woods or wooded, from silva, forest. It is the masculine partner to Silvana and Sylvie, which are the same root in feminine dress.
Saint Sylvester I was pope in the fourth century, and the name became a fixture in Christian Europe on the strength of that; New Year's Eve is still called Silvester in Germany and much of central Europe, after the saint's feast day.
Sly and Syl are the short forms. Three syllables take one (Sylvester Jude, Sylvester Wells). On our vibe map it is Heirloom with a Nature-Inspired root.
More Latin names
Sylvester sits in our Latin set — these share its roots.
All Latin names →Sylvester — common questions
Is Sylvester a boy or girl name?
Sylvester is traditionally a boy name of Latin origin.
What does the name Sylvester mean?
Sylvester means “of the forest, wooded” of Latin origin. Sylvester is Latin silvestris, of the woods or wooded, from silva, forest. It is the masculine partner to Silvana and Sylvie, which are the same root in feminine dress.
Where does the name Sylvester come from?
Sylvester is Latin in origin. Saint Sylvester I was pope in the fourth century, and the name became a fixture in Christian Europe on the strength of that; New Year's Eve is still called Silvester in Germany and much of central Europe, after the saint's feast day.
What are common nicknames for Sylvester?
Sly and Syl — the short-forms parents most often use for Sylvester.
How popular is Sylvester?
Sylvester did not make the top 1,000 boys' names in US Social Security Administration data for 2025, which makes it genuinely rare in the US.
Bring the name into the room
A couple of nice things named Sylvester you might want for the nursery.