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© 2026 Namesake · namesake.baby

Data: Social Security Administration, US births 1880–2024

Sylvan — Meaning, Origin & Popularity | Namesake
All names
Sylvain|Sylvana
Latin◈ Unisex · 54% boy · 46% girl↑↑ Surging

◈= unisex (gender-neutral)

Sylvan

◈

SIL-van · 2 syllables

Share Sylvan:
Compare with another name
Boy
#1911
↑↑ Surging
Boy
#1911
Popularity score: 24
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#1911 in 2024
5yr
+115 ranks
Velocity
+115
Birth frequency
2.3 per 100,000 births
Girl
#7529
Popularity score: 10
↑↑ Surging
Peak
#7529 in 2024
5yr
+1998 ranks
Velocity
+1998
Birth frequency
4.2 per 1,000,000 births

Popularity Over Time

↑ Higher on this chart = more popular · ↓ Lower = less popular

How Popular Is This Name?

Bars show the range of popularity for each group. The dot shows where this name sits. Further right = more popular.

BOY
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #1911 · Rising since 2020

All US boy names
Top 200 boy names
Latin boy names
Sylvan

Popularity score: 24  ·  SSA Rank: #1911

GIRL
Average0255075100Popularity score (0–100)20202024

Rank #7529 · Rising since 2020

All US girl names
Top 200 girl names
Latin girl names
Sylvan

Popularity score: 10  ·  SSA Rank: #7529

Rare  ·  Distinctive  ·  Familiar  ·  Common  ·  Very Common

Popularity score: 0 = least popular, 100 = most popular. Based on SSA rank.

Namesake Score
92
Higher than 92% of names
Combines uniqueness, trend, meaning, feasibility, and search interest.
Trend
↑↑ Surging
+115 ranks
Based on SSA rank velocity
Feasibility
Limited
.com taken · — · clear
Low friction, available
Uniqueness
70
4 per 10,000 births
Won't be common in class

Sylvan is surging in popularity right now.

Meaning Depth37% of score
60
Name Trend28% of score
88
Uniqueness20% of score
70
Feasibility15% of score
50

Scores are percentile-ranked across 43,000+ names.

Name DNA
NatureLatinForestUnisex2-syllableLiteraryEarthyUncommon
Character
woodland wisdomquiet strengthnatural gracecontemplative spiritearthy serenity
People with this name

Qualities shared by notable Sylvans

ambitiousphilanthropicvisionaryentrepreneurdedicated
STRONG
High confidence

Sylvan is a Latin unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #1911 in the US in 2024.

Trend:↑↑ Surging · +115 ranks
Feasibility:.com taken · — · clear
Popularity:#1911 · rare
Sylvan at a Glance
Meaning:Of or relating to the forest; wooded. Derives from Latin silva meaning forest, evoking natural woodland imagery and sylvan landscapes.
Language root:Latin · sylva (forest)
Peak rank:#1911 in 2024
5yr change:+115 ranks
Sex usage:Boy #1911 · Girl #7529
Notable bearers
Sylvan Adams
Israeli-Canadian businessman and philanthropist
Sylvan Goldman
Inventor of the shopping cart
Similar Sound
Silas◈Silva◈Soren◈Sully◈Solomon
Similar Style
Caspian◈LeifRowan◈Stellan◈Beckett◈
Works well with
Wren◈IvyHazelRowan◈Stellan◈Asher◈Thea
You Might Also Like
Caspian◈
Persian · #578
↑ Rising
Leif
Norse · #925
↓ Declining
Rowan◈
Celtic · #71
→ Stable
Stellan◈
Scandinavian · #1441
↑ Rising
Beckett◈
English · #166
→ Stable
Oliver
Latin · #3
→ Stable
Source: Social Security Administration baby names data. Popularity data reflects US births. Feasibility data updated monthly.
Sylvan illustration
Name Intelligence
Sylvan · Overview
Summary

Sylvan is a Latin unisex name with upward momentum in SSA rankings. It ranked #1911 in the US in 2024.

Strengths
Strong fundamentals
Sylvan scores 92/100 on the Namesake scale — meaning, origin, and trend all contribute positively.
Surging fast
Rank has moved 115 positions in the last year. Exceptional momentum.
Works for any sex
54% boy · 46% girl. A genuinely unisex name is rare at this level of distinctiveness.
Nature · Classic character
Sylvan carries a grounded, cool quality that makes it distinctive without being invented.
Considerations
Rising very fast
Sylvan is surging. If the trend continues, it may become significantly more common within 2-3 years.
Domain taken
sylvan.com is not available. Alternative TLDs may work.
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Data source:Social Security Administration
Coverage:US births 1879–2024
Updated:January 2025
ISR:Refreshes monthly
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