Sylvesta
Of Latin origin, meaning one from the forest or woodland.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Sylvesta. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 63.4% of registrations being female. The average person named Sylvesta today is around 90 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sylvesta births was 1928 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sylvesta. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Sylvesta is about 90 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Sylvestas were born before 1946.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sylvesta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1928
12 babies that year
Average age
90
years old
1936 SSA rank
#3,993
Tracked since 1880
Gender
Gender distribution for Sylvesta
Sylvesta is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 71 total registrations, 26 (36.6%) were male and 45 (63.4%) were female.
Sylvesta as a male name
- Ranked #3,993 in 1936
- 5 male births in 1936
- Peak: 1930 (6 births)
Sylvesta as a female name
- Ranked #4,144 in 1928
- 7 female births in 1928
- Peak: 1903 (7 births)
Origin
Meaning and history of Sylvesta
The name Sylvesta is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woods." It emerged during the ancient Roman era and was initially used as a surname, particularly for those who lived in or near forested areas.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Sylvesta dates back to the 3rd century AD, when it appeared in Roman inscriptions and records. It was relatively uncommon during this period but gradually gained popularity throughout the Middle Ages, especially among communities in Italy and parts of Western Europe.
In the 6th century, there is a record of a Saint Sylvesta, a virgin and martyr who was venerated in the Catholic Church. Her feast day is celebrated on November 16th, which may have contributed to the name's endurance and spread among Christian communities.
During the Renaissance period, the name Sylvesta was occasionally used by Italian families, particularly those with ties to the countryside or forestry. One notable figure was Sylvesta Calzolari, an Italian botanist and naturalist born in 1456. She was renowned for her extensive research on plants and their medicinal properties.
In the 17th century, Sylvesta Gonzaga, an Italian noblewoman born in 1621, gained recognition for her patronage of the arts and her involvement in various charitable endeavors. She was also known for her literary talents and her correspondence with prominent intellectuals of the time.
Another influential figure was Sylvesta Ferreira, a Portuguese explorer and cartographer born in 1675. She is credited with creating some of the earliest detailed maps of the Amazon region, which contributed significantly to the understanding of South American geography.
As the name spread across Europe, it acquired various spellings and variations, such as Silvestra, Sylvestre, and Sylvestra. However, the original Latin form, Sylvesta, remained the most prevalent.
Throughout history, the name Sylvesta has been associated with a connection to nature, forests, and the outdoors. While not as common as some other names, it has maintained a niche presence, particularly in certain regions and cultural contexts.
People
Sylvesta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sylvesta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sylvesta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sylvesta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sylvesta going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Sylvesta a common name?
We classify Sylvesta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 71 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sylvesta most popular?
The single biggest year for Sylvesta was 1928, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sylvesta is about 90 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sylvesta a female name?
Yes, 63.4% of people registered as Sylvesta in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.