Sylvester

Last seen for girls in 1981 at #9,110 · #2,207 for boys in 2025, 64 births
Given to boys 98.6% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1889 · 112 births
Debut · boys
89 births
In top 100 · boys
never
of 146 years
Total births · boys
43,230
since 1880

Sylvester over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Sylvester has never cracked the top 100 here.

#1#10#100#1,000rank188019001920194019601980200020201967peak #126, 1889boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025#2,20764
2024#2,09871
2023#2,14767
2022#2,09471
2021#2,10968
2020#2,46752
2019#1,97474
2018#2,12266
2017#2,06567
2016#2,08667
2015#1,98373
2014#1,92075
2013#1,86676
2012#2,27057
2011#2,17360
2010#2,14462
2009#2,05067
2008#2,06267
2007#2,16462
2006#1,79077
2005#1,88967
2004#1,91164
2003#1,53883
2002#1,57178
2001#1,51480
2000#1,39190
1999#1,32091
1998#1,41880
1997#1,169103
1996#1,23690
1995#1,010121
1994#963131
1993#893143
1992#1,017115
1991#904135
1990#712203
1989#708193
1988#662203
1987#646199
1986#634199
1985#632194
1984#584209
1983#628184
1982#584218
1981#9,1106#584215
1980#613204
1979#537249
1978#561223
1977#570217
1976#590190
1975#544218
1974#575195
1973#502241
1972#8,2925#529224
1971#6,6197#473291
1970#6,3627#515245
1969#499241
1968#7,0165#470259
1967#5,4577#439293
1966#423326
1965#397388
1964#405390
1963#5,2967#374454
1962#6,5785#373467
1961#349518
1960#6,3905#347504
1959#4,6258#326559
1958#316582
1957#312604
1956#5,3256#297621
1955#3,77810#283644
1954#4,6557#278640
1953#3,9559#276635
1952#4,4837#280603
1951#266640
1950#3,05212#256643
1949#277588
1948#3,8838#271600
1947#5,2955#281596
1946#278538
1945#4,0256#258508
1944#250534
1943#3,2499#272501
1942#267498
1941#3,0309#237538
1940#3,5037#257460
1939#2,20614#244472
1938#3,4507#237503
1937#2,9409#244476
1936#237482
1935#2,57511#224529
1934#2,56711#232497
1933#2,8689#232495
1932#2,83110#216561
1931#2,9729#226525
1930#2,30614#217599
1929#2,19115#224570
1928#2,28415#219599
1927#2,25616#218611
1926#1,58927#201688
1925#2,61713#203691
1924#2,13718#198708
1923#1,89521#190725
1922#2,61213#194707
1921#2,19517#185755
1920#2,73112#174807
1919#1,74522#173749
1918#1,88720#172766
1917#1,55224#175715
1916#3,0319#172715
1915#2,9009#163706
1914#2,4349#164538
1913#2,3318#157464
1912#2,9795#167348
1911#2,1916#154219
1910#1,52110#154200
1909#1,9576#164151
1908#1,4399#143166
1907#1,5128#149151
1906#1,4168#156125
1905#160126
1904#1,09211#154124
1903#1,7925#156114
1902#1,5946#141135
1901#1,2278#138120
1900#1,5617#160131
1899#16094
1898#147115
1897#144111
1896#148111
1895#15899
1894#1,2377#152101
1893#17085
1892#1,2786#16198
1891#19464
1890#1,2106#15193
1889#126112
1888#17783
1887#17771
1886#18273
1885#16282
1884#19967
1883#17769
1882#18274
1881#15976
1880#15389
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Sylvester was already there! It came in at #153, and was given to 89 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 2004–2025, when fewer than 78 boys a year got the name.

Where Sylvester is popular in 1967

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedAKMaine: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedMEVermont: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedVTNew Hampshire: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedNHWashington: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedWAIdaho: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedIDMontana: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedMTNorth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedNDMinnesota: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedMNIllinois: #491 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 7,714 boysILWisconsin: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedWIMichigan: #397 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 7,071 boysMINew York: #455 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 7,169 boysNYMassachusetts: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedMARhode Island: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedRIOregon: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedSDIowa: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedIAIndiana: #430 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 7,498 boysINOhio: #557 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 14,987 boysOHPennsylvania: #363 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 7,088 boysPANew Jersey: #303 for boys · 13 births · 1 in 4,150 boysNJConnecticut: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedCTCalifornia: #708 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 15,079 boysCAUtah: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedUTColorado: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedCONebraska: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedNEMissouri: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedMOKentucky: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedKYWest Virginia: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedWVVirginia: #287 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 3,025 boysVAMaryland: #285 for boys · 8 births · 1 in 3,603 boysMDDelaware: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedDEArizona: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedAZNew Mexico: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedNMKansas: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedKSArkansas: #221 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 1,505 boysARTennessee: #385 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 5,459 boysTNNorth Carolina: #382 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 4,778 boysNCSouth Carolina: #254 for boys · 12 births · 1 in 1,886 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #256 for boys · 6 births · 1 in 2,042 boysDCOklahoma: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedOKLouisiana: #394 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 3,454 boysLAMississippi: #179 for boys · 21 births · 1 in 981 boysMSAlabama: #225 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 1,544 boysALGeorgia: #246 for boys · 23 births · 1 in 1,775 boysGAHawaii: fewer than 5 boys named Sylvester, so not publishedHITexas: #516 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 6,254 boysTXFlorida: #297 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 2,450 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Mississippi#179 · 1 in 981
  2. Arkansas#221 · 1 in 1,505
  3. Alabama#225 · 1 in 1,544
  4. Georgia#246 · 1 in 1,775
  5. South Carolina#254 · 1 in 1,886

Best ever in a state: #58 in Mississippi, 1920.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
Mississippi#179211 in 981
Arkansas#221101 in 1,505
Alabama#225191 in 1,544
Georgia#246231 in 1,775
South Carolina#254121 in 1,886
District of Columbia#25661 in 2,042
Maryland#28581 in 3,603
Virginia#287121 in 3,025
Florida#297191 in 2,450
New Jersey#303131 in 4,150
Pennsylvania#363131 in 7,088
North Carolina#38291 in 4,778
Tennessee#38561 in 5,459
Louisiana#394101 in 3,454
Michigan#397111 in 7,071
Indiana#43061 in 7,498
New York#455211 in 7,169
Illinois#491121 in 7,714
Texas#516161 in 6,254
Ohio#55761 in 14,987
California#708111 in 15,079
Alaska
Arizona
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Hawaii
Idaho
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Maine
Massachusetts
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Mexico
North Dakota
Oklahoma
Oregon
Rhode Island
South Dakota
Utah
Vermont
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Sylvester
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 109 spots since 2024 (#2,098#2,207)
  • 260 spots since 2020 (#2,467#2,207)
  • 224 spots since 2015 (#1,983#2,207)
  • Biggest jump: 124 spots in 1993 (#1,017#893)
  • Biggest drop: 192 spots in 1991 (#712#904)
Rise & fade · boys
9 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1889 at #126 (112 births)
  • Births halved by 2020, 131 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 1,000 for 114 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: never
  • Top 1,000: 114 yrs · run 1880–1991
Share of babies · boys
1 in 887
  • Highest: 1 in 887 boys born in 1901 were named Sylvester (0.11%)
  • Latest: 1 in 26,689 boys born in 2025 (0.00%)
  • Its best rank, #126 in 1889, was only 1 in 987 (0.10%) — a smaller share of a much bigger birth year
Era · boys
The 1920s
  • 15.9% of all boys named Sylvester (6,861) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s796#126 (1889)#169
1890s971#144 (1897)#159
1900s1,343#138 (1901)#152
1910s5,420#154 (1911)#165
1920s6,861#174 (1920)#201
1930s5,139#216 (1932)#231
1940s5,361#237 (1941)#265
1950s6,171#256 (1950)#289
1960s3,840#347 (1960)#408
1970s2,293#473 (1971)#540
1980s2,018#584 (1982)#628
1990s1,212#712 (1990)#1,064
2000s735#1,391 (2000)#1,788
2010s677#1,866 (2013)#2,060
2020s393#2,094 (2022)#2,187

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Sylvester in 1967

girls
#5,457
7 births · 1 in 235,861 girls
boys
#439
293 births · 1 in 5,952 boys

Top girls' names in 1967

  1. #1Lisa52,437
  2. #2Kimberly33,097
  3. #3Michelle30,827
  4. #4Mary25,316
  5. #5Susan22,262
  6. #6Karen21,537
  7. #7Angela19,555
  8. #8Tammy18,652
  9. #9Melissa18,377
  10. #10Jennifer18,236
  11. #5,457Sylvester7

Top boys' names in 1967

  1. #1Michael82,411
  2. #2David66,806
  3. #3James61,683
  4. #4John61,600
  5. #5Robert56,369
  6. #6William37,615
  7. #7Mark34,910
  8. #8Richard33,585
  9. #9Christopher29,413
  10. #10Brian28,646
  11. #439Sylvester293
More about 1967

girls

1,651,025 girls got a published name in 1967; 1 in 235,861 of them was named Sylvester, which outranked 30.5% of the 7,852 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 15.8% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvester
  1. #4,982Zonda8
  2. #4,982Zonya8
  3. #4,982Zorina8
  4. #5,457Sylvester7
  5. #5,457Adam7
  6. #5,457Adra7
  7. #5,457Alease7
  8. #6,042Adine6
  9. #6,042Adora6
  10. #6,042Adrean6

Tied with 584 names at #5,457; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1966
Risers
  1. 1,873Anissa#2,519#646
  2. 1,660Buffy#2,453#793
  3. 1,522Nichelle#2,022#500
  4. 893Josette#1,621#728
  5. 862Lissette#1,600#738
Fallers
  1. 792Tatia#668#1,460
  2. 531Inger#929#1,460
  3. 400Sonji#639#1,039
  4. 389Sunday#983#1,372
  5. 325Cinda#944#1,269

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,743,811 boys got a published name in 1967; 1 in 5,952 of them was named Sylvester, which outranked 90.4% of the 4,551 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 28.3% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Sylvester
  1. #436Forrest302
  2. #437Darwin299
  3. #438Andres296
  4. #439Sylvester293
  5. #439Kip293
  6. #441Gilberto292
  7. #441Lionel292
  8. #441Roosevelt292

Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1966
Risers
  1. 1,048Alfie#1,963#915
  2. 548Waylon#1,540#992
  3. 519Ariel#1,450#931
  4. 430Brendon#1,345#915
  5. 416Terrill#1,259#843
Fallers
  1. 443German#968#1,411
  2. 396Darry#916#1,312
  3. 346Regan#835#1,181
  4. 337Caleb#916#1,253
  5. 317Winfred#785#1,102

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1967