Given name & surname
Vester
“from the wooded place”·“of the woods”·“man from the forest”
In German use, Vester is a short form of Silvester. One Latin interpretation is “of the woods.” Vester is a form of Sylvester. One Latin interpretation is “man from the forest.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Latin use, Vester carries the interpretation “from the wooded place.” In German use, Vester is a short form of Silvester. One Latin interpretation is “of the woods.” Vester is a form of Sylvester. One Latin interpretation is “man from the forest.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
In German use, Vester is used as a shortened form of Silvester. Vester is used as a form of Sylvester.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1882. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In German use, Vester is a short form of 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
Vester through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,228
- 2,566 boys · 662 girls
- Most popular year
- 1924
- 95 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 79% boys.
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 5 in 1991. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 739 as a first name in 2020; 1,431 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.
Vester’s family of names
Vester is a short form of Silvester. Vester is a form of Sylvester. Vester has a related form in Fester.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Vester, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Verlin
“from the alder-tree grove”
93% boys · 7% girls
Buster
“pockmark, boil”
>99% boys
Delmar
“a man of the sea”
>99% boys
Hurley
“a healthy woman” · “of the sea tide”
96% boys · 4% girls
Wilton
“from the town on the river”
>99% boys
Early
“daughter born prematurely” · “one who is punctual”
>99% boys
Chester
“from the camp of the soldiers”
>99% boys
Florian
“resembling a flower; one who is flourishing”
>99% boys