Sylvan
Latin, "woods, forest"
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Sleek and shiny, Sylvan is a woodsy name, reminiscent of silver birch trees, ivy leaves, and pale shades of green. A Nameberry favorite, I discovered this one on the forums, falling for its touch of forest-whimsy, its refined-yet-gentle feel, and the way it reminds me of options such as Soren, Rowan, Evander, and Lowen.
Sylvan is a relative of Silas and Sylvie, derived from the same Latin root, silva, giving it the appealing nature-inspired meaning of “woods” or “forest”. A Top 1000 choice in the US in the early 20th-century, Sylvan had fallen into obscurity by the 70s, given to just a tiny handful of boys each year.
Now, however, it’s in the Nameberry Top 500 and this renewed interest is being quietly reflected in real life! It has almost doubled in usage in the 2020s and a recent count saw it given to 83 boys (and 11 girls). Rare yet approachable, this could be one to watch out for.
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