Sylvester

Sylvester meaning

Sylvester is a Christian boy's name of Latin origin.

Of a wood or forest, wooded; growing wild

Also used to mean: of the forest

Sylvester comes from Latin silvester, built on silva, 'a wood or forest'. Lewis & Short define it as belonging to a wood, wooded or woody, and, of plants and animals, growing wild. The Christian name honours Pope St Sylvester I, who led the Church in Rome in the time of Emperor Constantine; his feast falls on 31 December, which is why New Year's Eve is called Silvester in much of Europe. In India Sylvester is used in Catholic families.

Source: Lewis & Short, A Latin Dictionary (1879), s.v. silvester · entry silvester · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026

References: Lewis & Short, silvester (alatius.com) · Wikipedia, Pope Sylvester I

Famous namesakes

• Pope St Sylvester I
• Sylvester Stallone, American actor

Spellings

Sylvester · Silvester

Related names

Also meaning nature

More names of Latin origin

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