Home / Name Directory / Sylvester
How Many People Are Named Sylvester?
Estimated people named Sylvester living in the U.S. today
18,587
Gender distribution
99% male · 1% female in SSA records.
Name scorecard
- Total U.S. births recorded (1880–2024): 43,792
- Peak year: 1920 (819 births)
- Estimated living today: 18,587
Sylvester by age group — who carries the name today?
Sylvester popularity over time (1880–2024)
Estimated living bearers by birth decade
About the name Sylvester
Sylvester has been recorded by the Social Security Administration since the 19th century dataset began. In total, 43,792 babies were given the name in the United States between 1880 and 2024. After adjusting each birth cohort for survival to today, an estimated 18,587 bearers are still living — roughly 1 in 18,389 Americans. The name's strongest decade shapes how old most Sylvesters you meet will be, which the age-group breakdown above shows directly. All figures are statistical estimates from public records; see our methodology for sources, the survival model, and the limits of the data (names given to fewer than five babies in a year are not published by the SSA).
Frequently asked questions
How many people are named Sylvester in the US?
An estimated 18,587 people named Sylvester are living in the United States today, based on SSA birth records from 1880 to 2024 adjusted for survival. That makes Sylvester rare — about 1 in 18,389 Americans.
Is Sylvester a boy or girl name?
In SSA records, Sylvester is 99% male and 1% female, so it is predominantly a male name.
When was Sylvester most popular?
Sylvester peaked in 1920, when 819 babies were given the name. Its current trend is steady compared with the previous decade.
How rare is the name Sylvester?
Sylvester ranks #1,658 of 104,819 first names recorded by the SSA, with a rarity score of 50 out of 100 (higher means rarer).