Sylvanus is of Latin origin and means "of the forest". It was originally a Roman family name, but has been adopted as a given name in some cultures. The name Sylvanus is often associated with the Roman god of fields and forests, also known by the same name. In literature, it appears in the works of authors such as Shakespeare and Virgil.
The name Sylvanus experienced fluctuations in popularity over time, with peaks in the early to mid-20th century and a decline in recent decades. The highest number of births recorded was 15 in 1915, while the lowest was 5, which occurred frequently throughout the period, particularly in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Overall, there were 458 births over this period.