US Popularity Rank: 19962

Origin: Latin

Meaning: Of the forest, woods

Those looking for an earthy pick as rare as a jellyfish tree will appreciate the boy's name Sylvanus. Rooted in Latin, it's typically shortened to Sylvan, Silvano, or Silas and means "of the forest" or simply "woods." Mythology buffs may recognize it as the Roman figure Silvanus, known as the god of the countryside. A true countryman, he guarded farmers and their fields and kept the peace with a field-marking system of his own invention. Nowadays, this name denotes a nature-loving friend of the earth with a green thumb and a big heart!