Adam vs Sylvester
Adam and Sylvestercompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 1992, Adam was ranked #22 and Sylvester #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #26 and Sylvester #2664 among boys in England and Wales.
Adam and Sylvester over time
Adam and Sylvester appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sylvester in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Adam moved ahead of Sylvester in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #206 and #197 the year before became #164 and #304.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sylvester in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Sylvester #1290 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #26, Sylvester #2664.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 1965–1992
Adam held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sylvester in 4.
Highest recorded here: Adam #22 in 1992, Sylvester #148 in 1965.
The order changed in 1971: Adam moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #206 and #197; by 1971 that had become #164 and #304.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Adam #22, Sylvester #298.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Adam
Pairs where Adam shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Oliver vs Adam
Over 77 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Oliver rose about as far as Adam fell — from #23 and #16 in 1996 to #6 and #26 in 2025.
Oliver · Adam · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Einar
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Einar fell — from #380 and #28 in 1952 to #29 and #57 in 2025.
Adam · Einar · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Erik
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Erik fell — from #380 and #31 in 1952 to #29 and #64 in 2025.
Adam · Erik · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Adam vs Espen
Over 73 shared years in Norway · Boys, Adam rose about as far as Espen fell — from #380 and #249 in 1952 to #29 and #430 in 2025.
Adam · Espen · 73 shared years, 1952–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Adam | Sylvester |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2664 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Sylvester does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Sylvester.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Sylvester doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #26 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sylvester
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #181 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–1992
Highest recorded position: #148 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–1992).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2664 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys