Sylvan
How to say it: SIL-vun · /ˈsɪlvən/
From Latin 'silva' meaning 'forest, woods' - related to Silvanus, Roman god of woodlands.
Sylvan was the 1,321st most popular boys’ name in the United States in 2025, given to 99 babies (Social Security Administration). Its busiest decade was the 1910s, its births are up 3.2-fold in ten years, and it is projected to rise to #917 by 2030.
Updated · SSA 2025 data, published May 2026 · How we compute these figures
Key facts
| Rank among boys’ names, 2025 | #1,321 |
|---|---|
| Babies born in 2025 | 99 |
| Share of births | 1 in 30,415 |
| Peak decade | 1910s |
| Change over 10 years | ×3.2 |
| Projected rank for 2030 (estimate) | #917 |
Sources: Social Security Administration (SSA). How we compute these figures.
Its life, decade by decade
Sylvan peaked in the 1910s, nearly vanished by the 1960s, and has come back.
What goes with it
Nicknames
- Sly
- Van
Other spellings
Honouring a Sylvan in the family
In the classroom
In a class of 25 children born in 2025, the chance that another child is called Sylvan is about under 1 in 200.
Around the world
This spelling is used in English, French.
Famous people named Sylvan
- Sylvan Ebanks-Blake (born 1986)British footballer
- Sylvan Adams (born 1958)Canadian-Israeli Philanthropist
- Sylvan Anderton (born 1934)English footballer
From Wikidata and Wikipedia
Good to know
- Sylvan Learning, US tutoring chain with 750+ centers; 'Sylvan' reads as the brand
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