Sylvester

Sylvester is a name derived from the Latin adjective "silvestris" meaning "wooded" or "wild", which derives from the noun "silva" meaning "woodland". Classical Latin spells this with "i". In Classical Latin "y" represented a separate sound distinct from "i", not a native Latin sound but one used in transcriptions of foreign words. After the Classical period "y" came to be pronounced as "i". Spellings with "Sylv-" in place of "Silv-" date from after the Classical period. 