Sylvester is a masculine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word 'silvestris', which means 'of the forest'. It was introduced to England by the Normans and gained popularity during the Middle Ages. The name Sylvester was traditionally associated with Saint Sylvester I, the Pope during the reign of Roman Emperor Constantine the Great, who according to legend baptized Constantine on Christmas Day in 336 AD. As a result, the name has been historically linked with Christmas celebrations.
The name Sylvester experienced fluctuations in popularity over the decades, with some periods showing no or minimal occurrences. The highest peaks were in the late 1950s and early 1960s, reaching up to 9 births per year, and again in the late 1970s with 8 births each year. However, there are several years with no recorded births of Sylvester between 1927 and 1995.