Sylvan Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sylvan originates from Latin, meaning 'of the forest.' It has evolved through various forms in historical languages, indicating a connection to nature. While it has no direct biblical relevance, it gained popularity during the Romantic era for its association with the natural world.
The name Sylvan is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sylvan has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Sylvan' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 755th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1115th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1811th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 3291st out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3960th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 4165th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2612th out of 23106 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 25632nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 20556th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 13046th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sylvan' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sylvan"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɪlvən/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Sylvan is derived from the Latin word 'silva,' meaning 'forest' or 'woodland.' It reflects a connection to nature and the outdoors.
Meaning
of the forest
Language Evolution
Silvanus (Latin), Silvianus (Latin variant), Sylvanus (Old French)
Historical Usage
The name gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century, influenced by Romanticism's appreciation for nature.
Variants & Derivatives
Silvan, Silvano, Sylvian
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Sylvan is perceived as a unique and nature-inspired name, often associated with tranquility and beauty.
Famous People
Sylvan Adams, Canadian-Israeli businessman, Sylvan Merritt, American painter
Explore More Sylvan Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sylvan"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sylvan"
"Sylvan" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 755th of 7545 | 1,205 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1115th of 6773 | 669 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1811th of 7552 | 356 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 3291st of 10718 | 154 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3960th of 16616 | 204 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 4165th of 24088 | 339 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 2612th of 23106 | 594 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 25632nd of 27321 | 6 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 20556th of 35406 | 37 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 13046th of 30306 | 74 |
Regional Popularity of "Sylvan" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
44.70% 633rd/1416 |
37.20% 513th/1379 |
43.79% 1036th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
56.86% 879th/1546 |
46.21% 719th/1556 |
95.07% 2237th/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
52.39% 1273rd/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- |
48.89% 1703rd/3483 |
- | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- |
59.17% 2648th/4475 |
- | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- |
41.44% 2140th/5164 |
- | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
65.76% 2620th/3984 |
36.77% 1650th/4487 |
63.97% 4364th/6822 |
42.94% 2695th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Sylvan" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sylvan"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sylvan" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.