Sylvester or Silvester is a name derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through ...

adjective In linguistics, an adjective ( abbreviated ) is a word that generally modifies a noun or noun phrase or describes its referent. Its semantic role is to change information given by the noun. Traditionally, adjectives were considered one of the ...

''silvestris'' meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the

noun A noun () is a word that generally functions as the name of a specific object or set of objects, such as living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, or ideas.Example nouns for: * Living creatures (including people, alive, ...

''silva'' meaning "woodland".

Classical Latin Classical Latin is the form of Literary Latin recognized as a literary standard by writers of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It was used from 75 BC to the 3rd century AD, when it developed into Late Latin. In some later period ...

spells this with ''i''. In Classical Latin, ''y'' represented a separate sound distinct from ''i'', not a native Latin sound but one used in transcriptions of foreign words. After the Classical period ''y'' was pronounced as ''i''. Spellings with ''Sylv-'' in place of ''Silv-'' date from after the Classical period.

Given name

Sylvester of Marsico Sylvester (c. 1100 – 1162), count of Marsico ( it), was a Norman nobleman of the Kingdom of Sicily. Second son of Godfrey of Ragusa, second eldest son of Roger I of Sicily, he was not a young man when he first rose to importance in the realm. ...

(c. 1100–1162), Count of Marsico in the Kingdom of Sicily * Silvester Ashioya (born 1948), Kenyan hockey player * Silvester Bolam (1905–1953), British newspaper editor * Silvester Brito (1937–2018), American poet and academic *

Sylvester Croom Sylvester Croom Jr. (born September 25, 1954) is a retired American football coach. He was the head coach at Mississippi State University from 2004 to 2008, and the first African American head football coach in the Southeastern Conference. Hi ...

(born 1954), American football coach and former player *

Silvester Diggles Silvester Diggles (24 January 1817 – 21 March 1880) was an Australian artist and musician of British origin, as well as being a noted amateur ornithology, ornithologist and entomology, entomologist. Biography Diggles was born in Liverpool, La ...

(1817–1880), Australian musician and ornithologist *

Silvester Fernandes Silvester Fernandes (born 26 November 1936) is a Kenyan field hockey player. He competed at the 1960, 1964 and the 1968 Summer Olympics The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the ...

(born 1936), Kenyan hockey player *

Silvester Gardiner Dr. Silvester Gardiner (June 29, 1708 – August 8, 1786) was a physician, pharmaceutical merchant and land developer of Maine. He is known for founding the city of Gardiner. Early years He was born in South Kingstown, Rhode Island, the son o ...

(1708–1786), American physician etc. * Silvester Goraseb (born 1974), Namibian footballer *

Sylvester Graham Sylvester Graham (July 5, 1794 – September 11, 1851) was an American Presbyterian minister and dietary reformer known for his emphasis on vegetarianism, the temperance movement, and eating whole-grain bread. His preaching inspired the grah ...

(1794–1851), Presbyterian minister, father of graham crackers *

Silvester Harding Silvester Harding (also Sylvester) (25 July 1745 – 12 August 1809) was an English artist and publisher. Life Harding was born at Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, England, UK, on 25 July 1745. Placed when a child with an uncle in London, a ...

(1745–1809), English artist and publisher *

Silvester Horne Charles Silvester Horne (1865–1914) was a Congregational minister, who additionally served as Liberal MP for Ipswich, and was a noted orator. He was the father of the humorous broadcaster, Kenneth Horne. Childhood He was born in Cuckfield, ...

(1865–1914), Congregational minister * Sylvester James Jr. (1947–1988), also known as Sylvester, a singer and disco performer *

Silvester Johnson Silvester Johnson (October 15, 1813 – July 13, 1889) was a Kentucky merchant and a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Biography Early life and business ventures Johnson was born October 15, 1813, on his parents' farm near ...

(1813–1889), Kentucky merchant and politician * Silvester Knipfer (1939–2010), German sports shooter *

Sylvester Levay Sylvester Levay (originally Lévay Szilveszter, Serbian language, Serbian: Силвестер Леваи, ''Silvester Levai'') is a Hungarian people, Hungarian recording artist and composer, born in Yugoslavia (now Serbia). Life and career Levay ...

(born 1954), Hungarian musician *

Sylvester McCoy Percy James Patrick Kent-Smith (born 20 August 1943), known professionally as Sylvester McCoy, is a Scottish actor. Gaining prominence as a physical comedian, he became best known for playing the seventh incarnation of the Doctor in the lon ...

(born 1943), Scottish actor *

Silvester Mirabal Silvestre Mirabal (1864–1939) was a farmer, stock raiser, and notable statesman. Mirabal over the course of his life would go on to become one of the most influential ranchers and statesman in the state of New Mexico. Mirabal was widely known f ...

(1864–1939), American farmer and statesman *

Sylvester Mittee Sylvester "The Master Blaster" Mittee (born 29 October 1956) is a Saint Lucian-British boxer of the 1970s and 1980s. He fought as an amateur lightweight and a professional light welterweight/welterweight/light middleweight, winning multiple cham ...

(born 1956), Saint Lucian/British boxer of the 1970s and '80s *

Silvester Sabolčki Silvester Sabolčki (; 12 November 1979 – 30 May 2003) was a Croatian footballer who played as a winger. Playing for NK Varteks, Sabolčki established himself as one of the most talented Croatian footballers of his generation and signed a ...

(1979–2003), Croatian footballer *

Silvester Sedborough Silvester Sedborough (1515/16-1551), of Porlock, Somerset, was an English politician. Family Sedborough was the eldest son of William Sedborough of Porlock and Joan, a sister and coheiress of Jerome Bratton of Porlock. Silvester Sedborough marri ...

(1515/16–1551), member of parliament *

Silvester Šereš Silvester Šereš (, ) (7 March 1918 – 20 January 2000) was a Yugoslav footballer of Hungarian ethnicity. Career Born in Temerin, he played with Temerin TC, Újvidéki AC, MTK Budapest, Partizan, Spartak Subotica, Vojvodina Vojvodina ( ...

(1918–2000), Hungarian-Yugoslav footballer *

Godfrey Silvester Shiundu Godfrey may refer to: People * Godfrey (name), a given name and surname * Godfrey (comedian), American comedian, actor Places In the United States * Godfrey, Georgia, an unincorporated community * Godfrey, Illinois, a village * Godfrey, Kansas, an ...

(born 1965), Kenyan clergyman *

Silvester Shkalla Silvester Shkalla (born 10 August 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Albanian club KS Kastrioti Krujë in the Albanian Superliga. Club career Early career Shkalla started his youth career at Shkëndija T ...

(born 1995), Albanian footballer *

Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Enzio Stallone (; born Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone, ) is an American actor and filmmaker. After his beginnings as a struggling actor for a number of years upon arriving to New York City in 1969 and later Hollywood in 1974, h ...

(born 1946), American actor *Sylvester Stewart (born 1943), or

Sly Stone Sylvester Stewart (born March 15, 1943), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, is an American musician, songwriter, and record producer who is most famous for his role as frontman for Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the ...

, musician and record producer, best known as the frontman for

Sly and the Family Stone Sly and the Family Stone was an American band from San Francisco. Active from 1966 to 1983, it was pivotal in the development of funk, soul, rock, and psychedelic music. Its core line-up was led by singer-songwriter, record producer, and multi ...

* Silvester Takač (born 1940), Serbian-Yugoslavian footballer and football manager * Sylvester Terkay (born 1970), American professional wrestler *

John Silvester Varley John Silvester Varley (born 1 April 1956) is an English banker who was the group chief executive of Barclays from 2004 to 2011. Early life John Silvester Varley was born in Warwick. His father, Philip, was a solicitor in Coventry. Varley was e ...

(born 1956), English banker * Silvester van der Water (born 1996), Dutch footballer

Clergy

Antipope Sylvester IV Sylvester IV, born Maginulf, was a claimant to the Papacy from 1105 to 1111 in opposition to Paschal II. A priest before his election, he was probably a native of Rome. He had the backing of the Roman militia and initially of the Holy Roman Empero ...

, a claimant from 1105 to 1111 * Pope Sylvester I (died 335), Saint Sylvester *

Pope Sylvester II Pope Sylvester II ( – 12 May 1003), originally known as Gerbert of Aurillac, was a French-born scholar and teacher who served as the bishop of Rome and ruled the Papal States from 999 to his death. He endorsed and promoted study of Arab and Gre ...

(c. 946–1003) *

Pope Sylvester III Pope Sylvester III (c. 1000 – October 1063), born John in Rome, was Bishop of Rome and hence ruler of the Papal States from 20 January to March 1045. Background Christened John, he was born into the powerful Roman patrician family Crescentii. ...

(died 1062 or 1063) * Silvester de Everdon (died 1254), bishop and Lord Chancellor * Sylvester Gozzolini (1177–1267), saint and founder of the Sylvestrines religious order *

Silvester Jenks Silvester Jenks (c. 1656 – December 1714) was an English Catholic priest and theologian. Born in Shropshire, Jenks attended the English College, Douai, where he served as Professor of Philosophy from 1680 to 1686. He later served as a preacher ...

(1656–1714), English priest and theologian *

Silvester Petra Sancta Silvester Petra Sancta (1590, in Rome – 6 May 1647, in Rome) was an Italian Jesuit priest, and heraldist. His name is also spelt as Sylvester Petra Sancta, Petrasancta, in Italian Padre Silvestro da Pietrasanta. Pseudonym: Coelius S ...

(1590–1647), Italian priest and herald *

Patriarch Silvester of Alexandria Silvester served as Greek Patriarch of Alexandria between 1569 and 1590. References * 16th-century Patriarchs of Alexandria 16th-century people from the Ottoman Empire {{EasternOrthodoxy-bishop-stub ...

(fl. 1569–1590) * Sylvester of Assisi (died 1240), companion of Saint Francis of Assisi *

Sylvester of Antioch Sylvester was Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch (1724–1766), the first patriarch after the Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized ...

, 18th century Greek bishop *

Sylvester of Kiev Sylvestr (''Сильвестр'' in Ukrainian) (–1123, aged 67-68) was a clergyman and a writer in Kievan Rus. Some sources name Sylvestr as a compiler of either the Primary Chronicle itself or its second edition. He was a hegumen of the Vy ...

(c. 1055–1123), clergyman and writer in Kievan Rus * Silvester of Troina (died 1185), Basilian monk *

Silvester of Valdiseve Silvester of Valdiseve (or Valdisieve) (1278–1348) was a medieval monk who is not yet recognized as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church, but rather a Blessed. Silvester was christened Ventura and lived in Florence. He was involved in the proces ...

(1278–1348), monk *

Sylvester of Worcester Sylvester was a medieval Bishop of Worcester. Sylvester was elected Prior of Worcester on 21 January 1215.Silvester baronets *

Andy Silvester Andrew Frederick Silvester (born 16 June 1947, Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England) is a British bassist and multi-instrumentalist. Silvester has played in various bands during his career, most notably as co-founder of both Chicken Shack and ...

(born 1947), British bassist and multi-instrumentalist * Attila Silvester, Greek choreographer *

Charles Sylvester Charles Sylvester (1774–1828) was a chemist and inventor born in Sheffield, in the Kingdom of Great Britain. He worked on galvanization, public building heating and sanitation, and railroad friction amongst other things. A book, ''Industrial M ...

, English chemist and inventor * Dean Sylvester, American hockey player *

David Silvester David James Silvester (born 26 December 1958) is a Scottish numerical analyst. He has a Chair in Numerical Analysis and is the Head of Applied Mathematics in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Manchester. Silvester was born ...

(born 1958), Scottish numerical analyst * David Sylvester (medievalist), Canadian medieval historian *

Debbie Silvester Debbie Silvester is a British-Australian chemist who is a professor at Curtin University. Her research considers electrochemical processes and sensing. She has explored room-temperature ionic liquids. In 2021, she was awarded the Australian A ...

(born 20th century), British-Australian chemist and professor *

Flor Silvester Florus "Flor" Silvester (30 August 1923 in Rotterdam – 2 December 2008 in Dordrecht), sometimes misspelled as Silvestre, was a Dutch graphic designer, illustrator, painter, and sculptor. Silverster's designs won him the Eurostar for pack ...

(1923–2008), Dutch graphic designer etc. *

Fred Silvester Frederick John Silvester (born 20 September 1933) is a retired British Conservative Party politician. Silvester contested the Walthamstow West parliamentary constituency in 1966; he was elected a Member of Parliament (MP) at the Walthamsto ...

(born 1933), former British politician * Frederick C. Silvester (1901–1966), British organist and composer * Hannah Sylvester (c. 1900–1973), American blues singer *

Harold Sylvester Harold Sylvester (born February 10, 1949) is an American film and television actor. Early life and education Sylvester was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is a graduate of New Orleans' St. Augustine High School and Tulane University. Turnin ...

, American film and television actor *

James Joseph Sylvester James Joseph Sylvester (3 September 1814 – 15 March 1897) was an English mathematician. He made fundamental contributions to matrix theory, invariant theory, number theory, partition theory, and combinatorics. He played a leadership ...

, English mathematician * Jarrod Silvester (born 1965), Australian rules footballer * Jay Silvester (born 1937), American athlete *

John Silvester (disambiguation) John Silvester may refer to: *John Silvester (writer), Australian journalist and crime writer * John Silvester (blacksmith) (1652–1722), English blacksmith at the Tower of London *John Silvester (lawyer) Sir John Silvester, 1st Baronet (7 Septe ...

Joshua Sylvester Josuah Sylvester (1563 – 28 September 1618) was an English poet. Biography Sylvester was the son of a Kentish clothier. In his tenth year he was sent to school at King Edward VI School, Southampton, where he gained a knowledge of French. ...

, English poet * Marc Sylvester, American middle-distance runner *

Michael Silvester Michael Silvester (born 4 June 1998) is an Irish rugby union player, currently playing for Pro14 and European Rugby Champions Cup side Leinster. He also won the PwC Cup of Nations on June 25, 2023 with the PwC Irish national team, being voted m ...

(born 1998}, Irish rugby union player *

Michael Sylvester (politician) Michael A. “Mike” Sylvester is an American politician who has served as a member of the Maine House of Representatives since 2016. He represents the 39th House District as a member of the Democratic Party. Sylvester is a member of Democratic ...

, American politician and labor organizer * Michael Sylvester (tenor), American opera-singer *

Mike Sylvester Michael "Mike" Joseph Sylvester (born December 10, 1951) is an American and Italian retired basketball player who is currently coach at Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy. Due to the United States boycotting the 1980 Summer Olympics, he was the ...

, an Italian-American basketball player * Nigel Sylvester, American professional BMX athlete * Paul J. Silvester (born 1963), American white collar criminal * Peter Silvester (disambiguation) * Philip Carteret Silvester (1777–1828), 2nd Baronet *

Rick Sylvester Rick Sylvester (born April 3, 1942) is an American climber and former stuntman, most famous for his BASE jumping using skis and a Union Jack parachute from Mount Asgard in Canada for the James Bond movie '' The Spy Who Loved Me'' in July 1976. ...

, American stuntman *

Robin Sylvester Robin Sylvester (1950 – 29 October 2022) was an English musician who was best known as a member of the American band RatDog. Although primarily a bass player, he played several instruments, including the guitar and keyboards, and did extensi ...

, English musician *

Sarah Morgan-Silvester Sarah Morgan-Silvester (born 1959) was the Chancellor of the University of British Columbia from November 19, 2008,

(born 1959), Canadian university chancellor * Sherry Sylvester, American political worker and journalist *

Stephen Silvester Stephen Silvester (born 12 March 1951 in Hull, Yorkshire, England) is an English former first-class cricketer who played six matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1976 and 1977. He also made appearances for Northumberland (1979), War ...

(born 1951), English cricketer * Victor Silvester (1900–1978), English musician and bandleader * Walter Sylvester (1867–1944), English inventor * William Sylvester, American TV and film actor * William Henry Thomas Sylvester, English army officer and surgeon

Fictional characters

* Bear Sylvester, a character on the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'' *Sylvester, a character in the 1990 American action comedy movie ''

Kindergarten Cop ''Kindergarten Cop'' is a 1990 American action comedy film directed by Ivan Reitman and distributed by Universal Pictures. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars as John Kimble, a tough police detective working undercover as a kindergarten teacher to apprehe ...

'' * Sylvester the Cat, a Looney Tunes character * Sylvester Junior, a son of Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr. *Sylvester, a donkey in the children's book '' Sylvester and the Magic Pebble'' *Sylvester, a main character in the series ''

Trapped in the Closet ''Trapped in the Closet'' is a musical film, musical soap opera series by American contemporary R&B, R&B singer, songwriter & producer R. Kelly, with 33 "chapters" released sporadically from 2005 to 2012. Written, produced, and directed by Kelly, ...

'' *Sylvester Rax, an antagonist in the 1985 animated show '' M.A.S.K. (TV series)'' *Sylvester McMonkey McBean, a character in the Dr. Seuss book ''

The Sneetches and Other Stories ''The Sneetches and Other Stories'' is a collection of stories by American children's author Dr. Seuss, published in 1961. It is composed of four separate stories with themes of tolerance, diversity, and compromise: "The Sneetches", "The Zax", ...

'' *

Sue Sylvester Susan "Sue" Rodham Sylvester is a fictional character of the Fox musical comedy-drama series, '' Glee''. The character is portrayed by actress Jane Lynch, and appears in ''Glee'' from its pilot episode, first broadcast on May 19, 2009, through ...

, a main character on the Fox sitcom ''Glee''

Given name

Clergy

Fictional characters

See also