Mostly boys · Aramaic, Latin, Greek

Silas

“of the forest; or prayed for”

Say it SY-lusPronunciation may vary by region.

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A little maybe, saved for later.

The story behind the name

Meet Silas.

Sleek and smart, with a hint of mystique about it, Silas is a recent addition to the US Top 100. Both mythological and Biblical in origin, Silas joins the ranks of Isaiah, Atlas, Elias, and Sebastian: polished and contemporary feeling names with plenty of history.

The origins of Silas are debated or perhaps multiple. On one hand, it could a simplified form of the Latin Silvanus, meaning "of the forest."

In Roman mythology, Silvanus was the god of trees, and his name was originally bestowed on those who lived in forested areas or who worked with wood. This could bring either a hardy, outdoorsy ruggedness to the name or something more mystical, dark, and intriguing.

A little perspective

How popular is Silas?

United States · 2025
Girls · 2025#12,9917 recorded births
Boys · 2025#714,639 recorded births

Recorded US births over time

201420254,6390
● Girls● Boys
View the numbers behind the chart
YearCategoryUS rankBirths
2025Boys714,639
2025Girls12,9917
2024Boys814,127
2024Girls7,21416
2023Boys804,105
2023Girls6,63718
2022Boys874,032
2022Girls6,18620
2021Boys913,916
2021Girls7,97914
2020Boys1003,645
2020Girls9,45811
2019Boys1053,566
2019Girls9,04112
2018Boys1103,518
2018Girls7,71715
2017Boys1203,340
2017Girls8,24014
2016Boys1193,417
2016Girls11,6619
2015Boys1283,191
2015Girls11,7119
2014Boys1372,937
2014Girls18,8575

Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.

A few ways to make it theirs.

Nicknames

No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.

Variations & related forms

CylasSiloSilusSylas

Keep the possibilities coming

If you love Silas…

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