Given name & surname
Silvestre
“man from the forest”·“of the woods”
Silvestre is a variant of Sylvester. One Latin interpretation is “man from the forest.” In Spanish use, Silvestre shares an earlier linguistic root with Silvester. One Latin interpretation is “of the woods.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Silvestre is a variant of Sylvester. One Latin interpretation is “man from the forest.” In Spanish use, Silvestre shares an earlier linguistic root with Silvester. One Latin interpretation is “of the woods.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In Spanish use, Silvestre shares an earlier linguistic root with Silvester. An origin associated with Silvester is Latin.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1912. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Spanish use, Silvestre shares an earlier linguistic root with Silvester. The history of Silvester gives this family its wider story. Silvester’s historical associations include various early saints, most notably the first pope to govern a Church free from persecution.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Silvestre through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,457
- 2,457 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1994
- 60 babies
- 2025
- 20
- #5,018 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −12%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 20 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 5,018 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 12.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for boys was 60 in 1994. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (8). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 4,967 as a first name in 2020; 3,724 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Silvestre’s family of names
Silvestre shares a linguistic root with Silvester. Silvestre has a related form in Sylvester. In Spanish usage, Silvestre has a conventional equivalent in the English form Sylvester.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Silvestre has relatives in 8 languages.
8 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 7
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Silvestre
- Silvestre VarelaPortuguese footballerborn 1985
- Silvestre IgoaSpanish footballer (1920-1969)
- Silvestre RevueltasMexican composer, violinist, and conductor (1899-1940)
- Silvestre ReyesAmerican politicianborn 1944
- Silvestre Siale BilekaEquatoguinean politicianborn 1939
- Silvestre Vélez de EscalanteSpanish missionary1750–1780
- Silvestre de BalboaCuban writer1563–1644
- Silvestre RasukAmerican actorborn 1987
- Silvestre Luís ScandiánBrazilian archbishop (1931–2019)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Silvestre, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Barkley
“birch tree” · “wood or clearing”
98% boys · 2% girls
Tecumseh
“a traveler; resembling a shooting star”
>99% boys
Ashford
“from the ash-tree ford”
>99% boys
Forrest
“a woodland dweller” · “from the woodland”
98% boys · 2% girls
Lamar
“from the renowned land” · “of the sea”
86% boys · 14% girls
Westleigh
“from the western meadow”
>99% boys
Darian
“a wise woman” · “from the oak tree”
94% boys · 6% girls
Stone
“as solid as a stone”
94% boys · 6% girls