Sylvester
Sylvester is a boy name of Latin origin, meaning From the forest; wild.
What Sylvester means
From the forest; wild.
Sylvester is a long name at 9 letters, which usually means a nickname will appear whether you plan one or not, and ends on a consonant, which gives it a firmer stop.
Where Sylvester comes from
Latin names travelled through the Roman world and then through the Church, which is why so many survive across Europe in local variants. A great many were originally descriptive — of virtue, of appearance, or of birth order.
Sylvester is recorded as Latin in origin. Browse other Latin names.
How popular is Sylvester?
Sylvester is not in the current top 100 boy names we track. In practice that means a child called Sylvester is unlikely to be one of three in a classroom — the name is established and recognisable, just not in heavy circulation right now.
The character of Sylvester
Sylvester spans the natural world and the long-established classics, which is why it can read differently depending on which association you notice first. Both threads are worth following.
Names like Sylvester
These share Sylvester's themes, origin, or both — closest first.
- Fabian — Bean grower.
- Rose — The rose flower.
- Sylvia — From the forest.
- Florence — Flourishing; in bloom.
- Laura — Laurel; victory and honour.
- Laurel — The laurel; honour and victory.
- Olive — The olive tree; peace.
- Ashton — Town of ash trees.
- Philippa — Lover of horses.
- August — Great, venerable, majestic.
- Julian — Youthful; devoted to Jupiter.
- Roman — Citizen of Rome; strong.
More Latin names
- Stellaluna — Star and moon.
- Sylvia — From the forest.
- Stella — Star. Shining and celestial.
- Temperance — Moderation and restraint.
- Solace — Comfort in sorrow.
- Tiberius — Of the Tiber river.
- Severus — Stern; resolute.
- Titus — Title of honour; a defender.
- Serenity — Peace and calm.
- Trinity — The holy three.