Silvan is a German male given name, representing the German form of Silvanus. The root name Silvanus was a Roman cognomen meaning "of the woods," derived from Latin silva meaning "wood, forest." In Roman mythology, Silvanus was the god of forests and woodlands. The name also appears in the New Testament as a companion of Saint Paul, also known as Silas. Through Paul, Silvan is indirectly connected to the root name Paul, which means "small" or "humble" in Latin. Cultural and Geographic Notes In addition to being a given name, Silvan is also a place name. According to Wiktionary, Silvan is a city in Diyarbakır Province, Turkey, historically known as Martyropolis, and a town in Victoria, Australia. In Turkish, Silvan refers to a town and district in Diyarbakır Province. Related Forms Related names include the original Silvanus (Biblical Latin), Silas (Greek), Silouanos (Biblical Greek), Sylas (Biblical Polish), Silvijo (Croatian), and Sylvan (English). Meaning: Form of Silvanus, meaning "of the woods" Origin: German (from Roman Latin) Type: First name Usage regions: Germany, Turkey (place name), Australia (place name)