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
- Peak · boys
- 1889 · 112 births
- Debut · boys
- 89 births
- In top 100 · boys
- neverof 146 years
- Total births · boys
- 43,230since 1880
Sylvester over time
Rank among boys' names. Sylvester has never cracked the top 100 here.
Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.
Show data table
| Year | girls | boys | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| rank | births | rank | births | |
| 2025 | — | #2,207 | 64 | |
| 2024 | — | #2,098 | 71 | |
| 2023 | — | #2,147 | 67 | |
| 2022 | — | #2,094 | 71 | |
| 2021 | — | #2,109 | 68 | |
| 2020 | — | #2,467 | 52 | |
| 2019 | — | #1,974 | 74 | |
| 2018 | — | #2,122 | 66 | |
| 2017 | — | #2,065 | 67 | |
| 2016 | — | #2,086 | 67 | |
| 2015 | — | #1,983 | 73 | |
| 2014 | — | #1,920 | 75 | |
| 2013 | — | #1,866 | 76 | |
| 2012 | — | #2,270 | 57 | |
| 2011 | — | #2,173 | 60 | |
| 2010 | — | #2,144 | 62 | |
| 2009 | — | #2,050 | 67 | |
| 2008 | — | #2,062 | 67 | |
| 2007 | — | #2,164 | 62 | |
| 2006 | — | #1,790 | 77 | |
| 2005 | — | #1,889 | 67 | |
| 2004 | — | #1,911 | 64 | |
| 2003 | — | #1,538 | 83 | |
| 2002 | — | #1,571 | 78 | |
| 2001 | — | #1,514 | 80 | |
| 2000 | — | #1,391 | 90 | |
| 1999 | — | #1,320 | 91 | |
| 1998 | — | #1,418 | 80 | |
| 1997 | — | #1,169 | 103 | |
| 1996 | — | #1,236 | 90 | |
| 1995 | — | #1,010 | 121 | |
| 1994 | — | #963 | 131 | |
| 1993 | — | #893 | 143 | |
| 1992 | — | #1,017 | 115 | |
| 1991 | — | #904 | 135 | |
| 1990 | — | #712 | 203 | |
| 1989 | — | #708 | 193 | |
| 1988 | — | #662 | 203 | |
| 1987 | — | #646 | 199 | |
| 1986 | — | #634 | 199 | |
| 1985 | — | #632 | 194 | |
| 1984 | — | #584 | 209 | |
| 1983 | — | #628 | 184 | |
| 1982 | — | #584 | 218 | |
| 1981 | #9,110 | 6 | #584 | 215 |
| 1980 | — | #613 | 204 | |
| 1979 | — | #537 | 249 | |
| 1978 | — | #561 | 223 | |
| 1977 | — | #570 | 217 | |
| 1976 | — | #590 | 190 | |
| 1975 | — | #544 | 218 | |
| 1974 | — | #575 | 195 | |
| 1973 | — | #502 | 241 | |
| 1972 | #8,292 | 5 | #529 | 224 |
| 1971 | #6,619 | 7 | #473 | 291 |
| 1970 | #6,362 | 7 | #515 | 245 |
| 1969 | — | #499 | 241 | |
| 1968 | #7,016 | 5 | #470 | 259 |
| 1967 | #5,457 | 7 | #439 | 293 |
| 1966 | — | #423 | 326 | |
| 1965 | — | #397 | 388 | |
| 1964 | — | #405 | 390 | |
| 1963 | #5,296 | 7 | #374 | 454 |
| 1962 | #6,578 | 5 | #373 | 467 |
| 1961 | — | #349 | 518 | |
| 1960 | #6,390 | 5 | #347 | 504 |
| 1959 | #4,625 | 8 | #326 | 559 |
| 1958 | — | #316 | 582 | |
| 1957 | — | #312 | 604 | |
| 1956 | #5,325 | 6 | #297 | 621 |
| 1955 | #3,778 | 10 | #283 | 644 |
| 1954 | #4,655 | 7 | #278 | 640 |
| 1953 | #3,955 | 9 | #276 | 635 |
| 1952 | #4,483 | 7 | #280 | 603 |
| 1951 | — | #266 | 640 | |
| 1950 | #3,052 | 12 | #256 | 643 |
| 1949 | — | #277 | 588 | |
| 1948 | #3,883 | 8 | #271 | 600 |
| 1947 | #5,295 | 5 | #281 | 596 |
| 1946 | — | #278 | 538 | |
| 1945 | #4,025 | 6 | #258 | 508 |
| 1944 | — | #250 | 534 | |
| 1943 | #3,249 | 9 | #272 | 501 |
| 1942 | — | #267 | 498 | |
| 1941 | #3,030 | 9 | #237 | 538 |
| 1940 | #3,503 | 7 | #257 | 460 |
| 1939 | #2,206 | 14 | #244 | 472 |
| 1938 | #3,450 | 7 | #237 | 503 |
| 1937 | #2,940 | 9 | #244 | 476 |
| 1936 | — | #237 | 482 | |
| 1935 | #2,575 | 11 | #224 | 529 |
| 1934 | #2,567 | 11 | #232 | 497 |
| 1933 | #2,868 | 9 | #232 | 495 |
| 1932 | #2,831 | 10 | #216 | 561 |
| 1931 | #2,972 | 9 | #226 | 525 |
| 1930 | #2,306 | 14 | #217 | 599 |
| 1929 | #2,191 | 15 | #224 | 570 |
| 1928 | #2,284 | 15 | #219 | 599 |
| 1927 | #2,256 | 16 | #218 | 611 |
| 1926 | #1,589 | 27 | #201 | 688 |
| 1925 | #2,617 | 13 | #203 | 691 |
| 1924 | #2,137 | 18 | #198 | 708 |
| 1923 | #1,895 | 21 | #190 | 725 |
| 1922 | #2,612 | 13 | #194 | 707 |
| 1921 | #2,195 | 17 | #185 | 755 |
| 1920 | #2,731 | 12 | #174 | 807 |
| 1919 | #1,745 | 22 | #173 | 749 |
| 1918 | #1,887 | 20 | #172 | 766 |
| 1917 | #1,552 | 24 | #175 | 715 |
| 1916 | #3,031 | 9 | #172 | 715 |
| 1915 | #2,900 | 9 | #163 | 706 |
| 1914 | #2,434 | 9 | #164 | 538 |
| 1913 | #2,331 | 8 | #157 | 464 |
| 1912 | #2,979 | 5 | #167 | 348 |
| 1911 | #2,191 | 6 | #154 | 219 |
| 1910 | #1,521 | 10 | #154 | 200 |
| 1909 | #1,957 | 6 | #164 | 151 |
| 1908 | #1,439 | 9 | #143 | 166 |
| 1907 | #1,512 | 8 | #149 | 151 |
| 1906 | #1,416 | 8 | #156 | 125 |
| 1905 | — | #160 | 126 | |
| 1904 | #1,092 | 11 | #154 | 124 |
| 1903 | #1,792 | 5 | #156 | 114 |
| 1902 | #1,594 | 6 | #141 | 135 |
| 1901 | #1,227 | 8 | #138 | 120 |
| 1900 | #1,561 | 7 | #160 | 131 |
| 1899 | — | #160 | 94 | |
| 1898 | — | #147 | 115 | |
| 1897 | — | #144 | 111 | |
| 1896 | — | #148 | 111 | |
| 1895 | — | #158 | 99 | |
| 1894 | #1,237 | 7 | #152 | 101 |
| 1893 | — | #170 | 85 | |
| 1892 | #1,278 | 6 | #161 | 98 |
| 1891 | — | #194 | 64 | |
| 1890 | #1,210 | 6 | #151 | 93 |
| 1889 | — | #126 | 112 | |
| 1888 | — | #177 | 83 | |
| 1887 | — | #177 | 71 | |
| 1886 | — | #182 | 73 | |
| 1885 | — | #162 | 82 | |
| 1884 | — | #199 | 67 | |
| 1883 | — | #177 | 69 | |
| 1882 | — | #182 | 74 | |
| 1881 | — | #159 | 76 | |
| 1880 | — | #153 | 89 | |
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 1938
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
- Mississippi#86 · 1 in 466
- District of Columbia#110 · 1 in 661
- Georgia#128 · 1 in 759
- Wisconsin#149 · 1 in 1,240
- Arkansas#153 · 1 in 910
Best ever in a state: #58 in Mississippi, 1920.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | #86 | 46 | 1 in 466 |
| District of Columbia | #110 | 8 | 1 in 661 |
| Georgia | #128 | 39 | 1 in 759 |
| Wisconsin | #149 | 20 | 1 in 1,240 |
| Arkansas | #153 | 20 | 1 in 910 |
| Florida | #155 | 15 | 1 in 921 |
| North Dakota | #157 | 6 | 1 in 882 |
| South Carolina | #167 | 18 | 1 in 1,077 |
| Maryland | #169 | 7 | 1 in 1,780 |
| North Carolina | #175 | 35 | 1 in 1,020 |
| Alabama | #180 | 23 | 1 in 1,196 |
| Missouri | #180 | 21 | 1 in 1,323 |
| Pennsylvania | #183 | 33 | 1 in 2,309 |
| Louisiana | #201 | 17 | 1 in 1,258 |
| Virginia | #201 | 16 | 1 in 1,456 |
| New Jersey | #215 | 8 | 1 in 3,184 |
| Illinois | #232 | 20 | 1 in 2,853 |
| Oklahoma | #233 | 12 | 1 in 1,757 |
| Minnesota | #237 | 9 | 1 in 2,496 |
| West Virginia | #242 | 9 | 1 in 2,130 |
| Tennessee | #253 | 11 | 1 in 2,437 |
| Michigan | #274 | 12 | 1 in 3,692 |
| Indiana | #275 | 7 | 1 in 3,856 |
| Ohio | #278 | 12 | 1 in 4,393 |
| New York | #280 | 19 | 1 in 4,645 |
| Kentucky | #288 | 10 | 1 in 2,797 |
| Iowa | #292 | 5 | 1 in 4,010 |
| Texas | #309 | 27 | 1 in 2,191 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| California | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Connecticut | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Washington | — | — | — |
| 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
- 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)
- Debuted 1880
- Peaked 1889 at #126 (112 births)
- Births halved by 2020, 131 yrs later
- Top 10: never
- Top 100: never
- Top 1,000: 114 yrs · run 1880–1991
- 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
- 15.9% of all boys named Sylvester (6,861) were born in this decade
Show by decade
| Decade | Births | Best rank | Avg rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880s | 796 | #126 (1889) | #169 |
| 1890s | 971 | #144 (1897) | #159 |
| 1900s | 1,343 | #138 (1901) | #152 |
| 1910s | 5,420 | #154 (1911) | #165 |
| 1920s | 6,861 | #174 (1920) | #201 |
| 1930s | 5,139 | #216 (1932) | #231 |
| 1940s | 5,361 | #237 (1941) | #265 |
| 1950s | 6,171 | #256 (1950) | #289 |
| 1960s | 3,840 | #347 (1960) | #408 |
| 1970s | 2,293 | #473 (1971) | #540 |
| 1980s | 2,018 | #584 (1982) | #628 |
| 1990s | 1,212 | #712 (1990) | #1,064 |
| 2000s | 735 | #1,391 (2000) | #1,788 |
| 2010s | 677 | #1,866 (2013) | #2,060 |
| 2020s | 393 | #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 1938
Top girls' names in 1938
Top boys' names in 1938
More about 1938
girls
1,103,456 girls got a published name in 1938; 1 in 157,637 of them was named Sylvester, which outranked 30.9% of the 4,995 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.3% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).
- #3,181Yetta8
- #3,181Zelpha8
- #3,181Zilpha8
- #3,450Sylvester7
- #3,450Abelina7
- #3,450Adalee7
- #3,450Adalia7
- #3,847Adaline6
- #3,847Adlean6
- #3,847Adlene6
Tied with 396 names at #3,450; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.
boys
1,109,147 boys got a published name in 1938; 1 in 2,205 of them was named Sylvester, which outranked 94.1% of the 4,035 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.