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 spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

adjective An adjective (abbreviations, abbreviated ) is a word that describes or defines a noun or noun phrase. Its semantic role is to change information given by the noun. Traditionally, adjectives are considered one of the main part of speech, parts of ...

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

noun In grammar, a noun is a word that represents a concrete or abstract thing, like living creatures, places, actions, qualities, states of existence, and ideas. A noun may serve as an Object (grammar), object or Subject (grammar), subject within a p ...

''silva'' meaning "woodland".

Classical Latin Classical Latin is the form of Literary Latin recognized as a Literary language, literary standard language, standard by writers of the late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire. It formed parallel to Vulgar Latin around 75 BC out of Old Latin ...

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 (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 (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 ornithologist and entomologist. Biography Diggles was born in Liverpool, Lancashire and married E ...

(1817–1880), Australian musician and ornithologist * Sylvester A. Dineen (1898–1950), American schoolteacher and politician *

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 (), officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad () and officially branded ...

(born 1936), Kenyan hockey player * Silvester Gardiner (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. He was known for his emphasis on vegetarianism, the temperance movement, and eating whole-grain bread. His preaching inspired th ...

(1794–1851), Presbyterian minister, father of graham crackers * Silvester Harding (1745–1809), English artist and publisher *

Silvester Horne Charles Silvester Horne **Charles Silvester Horne** (15 April 1865 – 2 May 1914) was a Congregationalist, Congregational minister, Liberal Party (UK), Liberal Member of parliament, MP for Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency), Ipswich, and a no ...

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

(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 Saint Sylvester's Day, also known as Silvester or the Feast of Saint Sylvester, is the day of the feast of Pope Sylvester I, a saint who served as Pope from 314 to 335. Medieval legend made him responsible for the conversion of emperor Constant ...

(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 descent. Career During World War II, Šereš played for Újvidéki AC (formerly NAK) in the 1943–44 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season, scoring 12 goals ...

(1918–2000), Hungarian-Yugoslav footballer *

Silvester Shkalla Silvester Shkalla (born 10 August 1995) is an Albanian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back. Club career Early career Shkalla started his youth career at Shkëndija Tiranë. After spending 3 years there he moved at Dinamo Tirana ...

(born 1995), Albanian footballer *

Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Gardenzio "Sly" Stallone (; born July 6, 1946) is an American actor and filmmaker. In a Sylvester Stallone filmography, film career spanning more than fifty years, Stallone has received List of awards and nominations received by Syl ...

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

Sly Stone Sylvester Stewart (March 15, 1943 – June 9, 2025), better known by his stage name Sly Stone, was an American musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the frontman of Sly and the Family Stone, playing a critical role in the development ...

, musician and record producer, best known as the frontman for Sly and the Family Stone *

Silvester Takač Silvester Takač ( Serbian ; born 8 November 1940) is a Serbian-Yugoslavian former football forward and manager. He was part of the Yugoslav squad that won gold at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Honours Manager OGC Nice * Coupe de France: 1997 ...

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

Sylvester Turner Sylvester Turner (September 27, 1954 – March 5, 2025) was an American attorney and politician who served as the U.S. representative for from January 2025 until his death in March 2025. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democra ...

(1954–2025), American attorney and politician, Mayor of Houston, Texas *

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 Silvester van der Water (born 30 September 1996) is a Dutch professional association football, footballer who plays as a Winger (association football), winger for club RKC Waalwijk. Club career Almere City In 2014, van der Water joined the ...

(born 1996), Dutch footballer

Clergy

* Antipope Sylvester IV, a claimant from 1105 to 1111 *

Pope Sylvester I Pope Sylvester I (also Silvester, before 284 – 31 December 335) was the bishop of Rome from 31 January 314 until his death on 31 December 335. He filled the See of Rome at an important era in the history of the Western Church, though very lit ...

(died 335), Saint Sylvester *

Pope Sylvester II Pope Sylvester II (; – 12 May 1003), originally known as Gerbert of Aurillac, was a 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 Science in the medieva ...

(c. 946–1003) * Pope Sylvester III (died 1062 or 1063) *

Silvester de Everdon Silvester de Everdon (died 1254) was a medieval Bishop of Carlisle and Lord Chancellor of England. Life Everdon came from the village of Everdon, near Daventry in Northamptonshire, but other than the fact that he was related to a locally promin ...

(died 1254), bishop and Lord Chancellor *

Sylvester Gozzolini Silvestro Guzzolini (1177 – 26 November 1267) was an Italian Catholic Church, Catholic Priesthood in the Catholic Church, priest and the founder of the Sylvestrines, Silvestrini. He served as a Canon (priest), canon in Osimo but respectful re ...

(1177–1267), saint and founder of the Sylvestrines religious order * Silvester Jenks (1656–1714), English priest and theologian * Silvester Petra Sancta (1590–1647), Italian priest and herald * Patriarch Silvester of Alexandria (fl. 1569–1590) * Sylvester of Assisi (died 1240), companion of Saint Francis of Assisi * Sylvester of Antioch, 18th century Greek bishop * Sylvester of Kiev (c. 1055–1123), clergyman and writer in Kievan Rus * Silvester of Troina (died 1185), Basilian monk * Silvester of Valdiseve (1278–1348), monk *

Sylvester of Worcester Sylvester was a medieval Bishop of Worcester The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary (officer), head of the Church of England Anglican Diocese of Worcester, Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. The title can be trac ...

, early 13th century Bishop of Worcester * Sylvester (priest), 15th-century priest of the Cathedral of the Annunciation and close advisor to Ivan IV

Surname

* 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 (1944–2010), Greek choreographer * Charles Sylvester (1774–1828), English chemist and inventor * Dean Sylvester (born 1972), American hockey player * David Silvester (born 1958), Scottish numerical analyst * David Sylvester (medievalist), Canadian medieval historian * Debbie Silvester (born 20th century), British-Australian chemist and professor * Flor Silvester (1923–2008), Dutch graphic designer etc. * Fred Silvester (born 1933), former British politician * Frederick C. Silvester (1901–1966), British organist and composer *

Hannah Sylvester Hannah Sylvester (January 19, 1903 – October 15, 1973) was an American blues singer who performed in the classic female blues style, which was popular during the 1920s. She was billed as "Harlem's Mae West".Harris 1994, p. 492. Biography Sylv ...

(1903–1973), 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 ...

(born 1949), 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 ...

(1814–1897), English mathematician * Jarrod Silvester (born 1965), Australian rules footballer *

Jay Silvester L. Jay Silvester (born August 27, 1937) and participated in college athletics at Utah State University from 1956 to 1959 is an American retired athlete who mainly competed in the discus throw. In this event he finished in fourth, fifth, secon ...

(born 1937), American athlete * John Silvester (disambiguation) * Joshua Sylvester (1563–1618), English poet * Lewis Sylvester (born 1998), English boxer * Marc Sylvester, American middle-distance runner * Michael Silvester (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) (born 1951), American opera-singer *

Mike Sylvester Michael Joseph "Mike" 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 t ...

(born 1951), an Italian-American basketball player *

Mist Mist is a phenomenon caused by small droplets of water suspended in the cold air, usually by condensation. Physically, it is an example of a Dispersion (chemistry), dispersion. It is most commonly seen where water vapor in warm, moist air meets ...

(born 1992 as Rhys Thomas Sylvester), British rapper * Nigel Sylvester (born 1987), 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 (born 1942), 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 guitar, bass player, he played several instruments, including the guitar and keyboards, and ...

(1950–2022), 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 (born 1951), English cricketer *

Victor Silvester Victor Marlborough Silvester OBE (25 February 190014 August 1978) was an English dancer, writer, musician and bandleader from the British dance band era. He was a significant figure in the development of ballroom dance during the first half ...

(1900–1978), English musician and bandleader * Walter Sylvester (1867–1944), English inventor *

William Sylvester William Sylvester (January 31, 1922 – January 25, 1995) was an American actor, chiefly known for his film and television work in the United Kingdom. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he was a star of British B-movies in t ...

(1922–1995), American TV and film actor * William Henry Thomas Sylvester (1831–1920), English army officer and surgeon

Mononym

Sylvester (singer) Sylvester James Jr. (September 6, 1947December 16, 1988), known simply as Sylvester, was an American singer-songwriter. Primarily active in the genres of disco, rhythm and blues, and soul, he was known for his flamboyant and androgynous appea ...

(1947–1988), full name Sylvester James Jr., a singer and disco performer

Fictional characters

Bear Sylvester Bear Sylvester is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera ''Doctors'', portrayed by Dex Lee. Lee began filming for the role in June 2019 and Bear made his first appearance on 18 November 2019, in scenes that show him attending an intervie ...

, a character on the BBC soap opera ''

Doctors Doctor, Doctors, The Doctor or The Doctors may refer to: Titles and occupations * Physician, a medical practitioner * Doctor (title), an academic title for the holder of a doctoral-level degree ** Doctorate ** List of doctoral degrees awarded b ...

'' *

Sylvester the Cat Sylvester J. Pussycat Sr. is a fictional character, an anthropomorphic Bicolor cat, cat in the ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series of cartoons. Most of his appearances have him often chasing Tweety Bird, Speedy Gonzales, or Hippety Hop ...

, a Looney Tunes character *

Sylvester Junior Sylvester J. Pussycat Jr., simply known as Sylvester Jr., is an animated cartoon character in the Warner Bros. ''Looney Tunes'' and ''Merrie Melodies'' series. He was created by Robert McKimson. Appearances Sylvester Jr. appeared in the following ...

, a son of Sylvester J. Pussycat, Sr. *Sylvester, a donkey in the children's book ''

Sylvester and the Magic Pebble ''Sylvester and the Magic Pebble'' is a children's book, children's picture book written and illustrated by William Steig, and published in 1969. It won the Caldecott Medal in 1970. Plot Sylvester Duncan, a young donkey from the fictional commu ...

'' *Sylvester, a main character in the series '' Trapped in the Closet'' *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 t ...

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

Given name

Clergy

Surname

Mononym

Fictional characters

See also