Silvester is a name of Latin origin, derived from the word 'silvestris', which means 'of the woods' or 'pertaining to the forest'. It is often associated with the Latin god Silvanus, who was believed to reside in the forests and protect them. The name has been used historically as both a given name and a surname. In some cultures, it may also be considered an alternative spelling of Sylvester, which has similar origins but is more commonly used.
Based on the provided statistics, the name Silvester has seen a varied trend in popularity over time. The peak years for the name seem to be around World War I and the early post-war period, with notable spikes in 1914 (15 births), 1916 (17 births), 1919 (21 births), and 1923 (31 births). However, from the 1930s onwards, the number of annual Silvester births steadily declined, reaching a low point in the late 1980s to early 1990s, with fewer than 10 births per year between 1986 and 1994. In recent years (2000-2023), the name has seen a slight resurgence, with an average of around 6 births per year. Overall, there have been a total of 1306 Silvester births recorded between 1884 and 2023.