UK boy's name
Sylver
Of Old English origin, meaning "one who lives near woods".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2020. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sylver is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Sylver popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2020 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2404, with 8 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2020, with 8 births.
This profile covers 11 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2019 to 2020. 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.
Sylver is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 11 living people in the UK are called Sylver. 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 2021 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sylver ranked #2404 for boys in England and Wales in 2020, with 8 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2020, when 8 boys were registered as Sylver.
- • About 11 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sylver as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2404
2020
Births in 2020
8
Latest year
Peak year
2020
8 births
Estimated living
11
2026
Meaning
What does Sylver mean?
The given name Sylver has its origins in the Latin language, with the root word "Silva" meaning "forest" or "woodland." This name emerged during the Roman era, when Latin was widely spoken across Europe and the Mediterranean region. It was initially used as a surname or a descriptive name, referring to individuals who lived in or near forested areas.
In its earliest form, the name was spelled as "Silvanus" or "Silvius," and it was associated with the Roman god of forests, fields, and boundaries. This pagan deity was revered by farmers, shepherds, and those who relied on the natural resources of the woodlands. The name carried a sense of reverence for nature and a connection to the rural way of life.
As Christianity spread throughout Europe, the name Sylver underwent several transformations and adaptations. It was influenced by the Latin word "sylva," meaning "wood" or "timber," and the name gained a more secular connotation, becoming a common given name among various European cultures.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sylver can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who mentioned a figure named Silvius, the son of Aeneas, the legendary Trojan hero. This reference dates back to the 1st century BC and suggests that the name was already in use during the early Roman period.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sylver or its variations:
1. Silvius Annius (c. 230 BC), a Roman historian and author of the "Annals of Rome." 2. Silvius Brabo (c. 589 AD), a legendary figure in Dutch folklore, credited with defeating a giant and throwing his hand into the Scheldt River. 3. Silvius Antonianus (c. 1490-1558), an Italian poet and humanist during the Renaissance period. 4. Silvius Plouvere (c. 1550-1620), a Flemish architect and sculptor known for his work on the Antwerp Cathedral. 5. Silvius Leopold Weiss (1686-1750), a renowned German composer and lutenist during the Baroque era.
While the name Sylver may have fallen out of widespread use in recent times, its rich history and connection to nature, mythology, and various European cultures make it a unique and intriguing choice for a given name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sylver over time
The chart below shows babies named Sylver registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2019 to 2020. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sylver, the clearest high point is 2020. The latest England and Wales figure is 8 births in 2020, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sylver by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sylver 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2404 | 8 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4702 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Sylver
- 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
Sylver: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sylver in the UK right now?
In 2020, Sylver was ranked #2404 for boys in England and Wales, with 8 births registered.
When was Sylver most popular?
The peak year on record was 2020, with 8 babies registered as Sylver in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sylver?
Of Old English origin, meaning "one who lives near woods".
How many people are called Sylver in the UK?
A total of 11 babies have been registered as Sylver 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.