Sylvan
Boy name · #1669 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Sylvan? In official American birth records, Sylvan has been tracked continuously since 1886, giving it 139 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 99 baby boys were named Sylvan, placing it at #1669 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #4080, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 18,182 boys born in 2025 was named Sylvan.
The 139-year story
Sylvan first appears in the Social Security records in 1886, when 7 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1918, when 103 boys were named Sylvan — good for #604 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sylvan per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sylvan against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sylvan in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sylvan is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sylvan will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sylvan is most common
State-level data for Sylvan is too sparse in 2025 to rank by rate — in most states its count falls below the SSA's per-state reporting threshold (counts under 5 are withheld).
Names like Sylvan
Statistically, parents drawn to Sylvan tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Florian, Harlan, Meyer, Sol, and Casimir.
FlorianHarlanMeyerSolCasimirWarnerOswaldOrin
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sylvan | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 99 | #1668 |
| 2024 | 84 | #1891 |
| 2023 | 75 | #2014 |
| 2022 | 80 | #1938 |
| 2021 | 64 | #2193 |
| 2020 | 45 | #2728 |
| 2019 | 48 | #2656 |
| 2018 | 32 | #3446 |
| 2017 | 35 | #3249 |
| 2016 | 43 | #2783 |
| 2015 | 25 | #4080 |
| 2014 | 35 | #3154 |
| 2013 | 29 | #3582 |
| 2012 | 31 | #3450 |
| 2011 | 25 | #3994 |
| 2010 | 27 | #3812 |
| 2009 | 20 | #4748 |
| 2008 | 20 | #4714 |
| 2007 | 18 | #4996 |
| 2006 | 25 | #3888 |
| 2005 | 18 | #4631 |
| 2004 | 21 | #4129 |
| 2003 | 20 | #4114 |
| 2002 | 29 | #3095 |
| 2001 | 22 | #3721 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sylvan?
In official American birth records, the name Sylvan first appeared in 1886 (over 139 years ago), when 7 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Sylvan a popular boy name?
Sylvan ranked #1669 among boys in 2025 with 99 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #4080.
When was the name Sylvan most popular?
Sylvan peaked in 1918, when 103 American boys received the name (ranked #604 that year). Since 1918 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sylvan?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 18,182 newborn American boys was named Sylvan. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.