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
- 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
boys
Rank among boys' names. Sylvester has never cracked the top 100 here.
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
| 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 | |
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 1987
- Rank in state
- Top 10
- 11–50
- 51–100
- 101–500
- 501+
- Not published
Hover or tap a state for its numbers.
Top states · boys
- District of Columbia#239 · 1 in 1,336
- South Carolina#302 · 1 in 2,382
- Alabama#305 · 1 in 2,532
- Mississippi#307 · 1 in 2,046
- Connecticut#369 · 1 in 4,272
Best ever in a state: #58 in Mississippi, 1920.
Show every state
| State | Rank | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia | #239 | 6 | 1 in 1,336 |
| South Carolina | #302 | 9 | 1 in 2,382 |
| Alabama | #305 | 10 | 1 in 2,532 |
| Mississippi | #307 | 8 | 1 in 2,046 |
| Connecticut | #369 | 5 | 1 in 4,272 |
| Tennessee | #380 | 8 | 1 in 4,029 |
| Maryland | #392 | 6 | 1 in 4,851 |
| Missouri | #434 | 6 | 1 in 5,957 |
| New Jersey | #482 | 8 | 1 in 6,239 |
| Illinois | #502 | 15 | 1 in 5,447 |
| Michigan | #527 | 8 | 1 in 8,079 |
| Florida | #528 | 13 | 1 in 6,117 |
| Pennsylvania | #539 | 8 | 1 in 9,699 |
| Georgia | #541 | 7 | 1 in 6,508 |
| North Carolina | #589 | 5 | 1 in 8,303 |
| New York | #679 | 13 | 1 in 9,664 |
| Texas | #787 | 12 | 1 in 11,953 |
| California | #827 | 17 | 1 in 14,045 |
| Alaska | — | — | — |
| Arizona | — | — | — |
| Arkansas | — | — | — |
| Colorado | — | — | — |
| Delaware | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | — | — | — |
| Idaho | — | — | — |
| Indiana | — | — | — |
| Iowa | — | — | — |
| Kansas | — | — | — |
| Kentucky | — | — | — |
| Louisiana | — | — | — |
| Maine | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | — | — | — |
| Minnesota | — | — | — |
| Montana | — | — | — |
| Nebraska | — | — | — |
| Nevada | — | — | — |
| New Hampshire | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | — | — | — |
| Ohio | — | — | — |
| Oklahoma | — | — | — |
| Oregon | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | — | — | — |
| South Dakota | — | — | — |
| Utah | — | — | — |
| Vermont | — | — | — |
| Virginia | — | — | — |
| 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
| 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 1987
boys
#646
199 births · 1 in 9,382 boys
Top boys' names in 1987
More about 1987
boys
1,866,984 boys got a published name in 1987; 1 in 9,382 of them was named Sylvester, which outranked 92.1% of the 8,152 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 21.8% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).
Ranked beside Sylvester
- #642Leonel203
- #644Devan202
- #645Jovan201
- #646Sylvester199
- #646Amir199
- #646Aubrey199
- #646Barrett199
- #654Derik198
- #655Royce196
- #656Cristian194
Tied with 7 names at #646; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.
Biggest movers since 1986
Risers
Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.