Silvester: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among boys

Babies in 2025

named Silvester

How common

–

boys born in 2025

Peak year

1960

32 babies

All-time total

1,306

#4,338 all-time among boys

First recorded

1884

in Social Security records

Silvester popularity over time

1,306 babies have been named Silvester since 1884, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure

Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Boys	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	13	1	–	#836
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	31	3	–	#1,195
1910s	133	13	+329%	#976
1920s	218	22	+64%	#1,318
1930s	121	12	-44%	#1,745
1940s	103	10	-15%	#1,686
1950s	170	17	+65%	#1,674
1960s	177	18	+4%	#1,428
1970s	83	8	-53%	#3,041
1980s	99	10	+19%	#3,192
1990s	88	9	-11%	#4,721
2000s	53	5	-40%	#8,511
2010s	11	1	-79%	#11,881
2020s (to 2025)	6	1	-9%	#12,042

The story of Silvester

Silvester is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1884, 1,306 American babies have been named Silvester. Its peak came in 1960, when 32 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Silvester stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Silvester?

The median living Silvester is about 57 years old; half are between 37 and 68. An estimated 700 people named Silvester are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Silvester year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Boys	Boys rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	6	#12,042
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	–	–
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	6	#11,881
2014	–	–
2013	–	–
2012	–	–
2011	–	–
2010	5	#13,960
2009	–	–
2008	–	–
2007	9	#8,815
2006	9	#8,622
2005	6	#11,266
2004	5	#12,949
2003	8	#8,511
2002	5	#12,232
2001	6	#10,368
2000	5	#11,877
1995	–	–
1990	10	#5,318
1985	14	#3,366
1980	7	#5,439
1975	9	#3,907
1970	11	#3,041
1965	14	#2,256
1960	32	#1,428
1955	22	#1,674
1950	10	#2,558
1945	17	#1,686
1940	9	#2,651
1935	11	#2,379
1930	19	#1,745
1925	24	#1,575
1920	26	#1,495
1915	14	#2,049
1910	12	#976
1905	–	–
1900	6	#1,284
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Silvester

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

1 Silvester Takač Serbian footballer and manager b. 1940 · Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Silvester, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Silvester?

The median living Silvester is about 57 years old. Half of all living Silvesters are between 37 and 68 years old.

How many people named Silvester are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Silvester are alive in the United States, based on 1,306 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Silvester mean?

A male given name, variant of Sylvester.

How popular is the name Silvester in 2025?

Silvester did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Silvester?

1,306 babies have been named Silvester in the United States since 1884, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Silvester most popular?

Silvester peaked in 1960, when 32 newborns received the name.

Is Silvester a boy or girl name?

Silvester is overwhelmingly a boy's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Silvester rising or falling?

Silvester has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Silvester?

Well-known people named Silvester include Silvester Takač (soccer player).

Names like Silvester

Names that sound and feel close to Silvester: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Silvester with similar names → More names starting with S →