UK boy's name
Sylvain
From French origin, meaning "coming from the woods".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2008. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sylvain is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sylvain popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2008 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4432, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1996, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 1996 to 2008. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Sylvain. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2009 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sylvain ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales in 2008, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1996, when 3 boys were registered as Sylvain.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sylvain as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4432
2008
Births in 2008
3
Latest year
Peak year
1996
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Sylvain mean?
The name Sylvain originates from the French language and culture. It is derived from the Latin name Silvanus, which was the name of the Roman god of woods and forests. The name Silvanus is believed to have come from the Latin word "silva," meaning "forest" or "woods."
The earliest recorded use of the name Sylvain dates back to the Middle Ages in France. During this time period, it was a popular name among the French aristocracy and nobility. The name was also found in various historical records and documents from this era.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Sylvain was Sylvain Gohaud, a French Benedictine monk who lived in the 11th century. He was known for his writings and teachings on theology and philosophy.
In the 16th century, Sylvain Maréchal was a renowned French mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the fields of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits. Maréchal was born in 1594 and died in 1667.
During the 17th century, Sylvain Régis was a French philosopher and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the intellectual circles of his time and wrote extensively on topics such as metaphysics and ethics. Régis was born in 1632 and died in 1707.
In the 18th century, Sylvain Bailly was a French astronomer and politician. He served as the first mayor of Paris during the French Revolution and was a prominent figure in the early stages of the revolution. Bailly was born in 1736 and executed in 1793.
Another notable figure with the name Sylvain was Sylvain Poncelet, a French mathematician and engineer who lived in the 19th century. He made significant contributions to the field of projective geometry and is considered one of the founders of modern geometry. Poncelet was born in 1788 and died in 1867.
Throughout history, the name Sylvain has been associated with individuals from various fields, including science, philosophy, and politics. Its French origins and connection to the Roman god of forests have contributed to its enduring popularity and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sylvain over time
The chart below shows babies named Sylvain registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2008. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sylvain, the clearest high point is 1996. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2008, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sylvain by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sylvain was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4432 | 3 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2863 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sylvain
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Sylvain: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sylvain in the UK right now?
In 2008, Sylvain was ranked #4432 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sylvain most popular?
The peak year on record was 1996, with 3 babies registered as Sylvain in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sylvain?
From French origin, meaning "coming from the woods".
How many people are called Sylvain in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Sylvain across the 2 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.