Arlo
Irish or English
“between two hills”
Mostly boys · Aramaic, Latin, Greek
“of the forest; or prayed for”
Say it SY-lusPronunciation may vary by region.
A little maybe, saved for later.
The story behind the name
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
Recorded US births over time
| Year | Category | US rank | Births |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Boys | 71 | 4,639 |
| 2025 | Girls | 12,991 | 7 |
| 2024 | Boys | 81 | 4,127 |
| 2024 | Girls | 7,214 | 16 |
| 2023 | Boys | 80 | 4,105 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,637 | 18 |
| 2022 | Boys | 87 | 4,032 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,186 | 20 |
| 2021 | Boys | 91 | 3,916 |
| 2021 | Girls | 7,979 | 14 |
| 2020 | Boys | 100 | 3,645 |
| 2020 | Girls | 9,458 | 11 |
| 2019 | Boys | 105 | 3,566 |
| 2019 | Girls | 9,041 | 12 |
| 2018 | Boys | 110 | 3,518 |
| 2018 | Girls | 7,717 | 15 |
| 2017 | Boys | 120 | 3,340 |
| 2017 | Girls | 8,240 | 14 |
| 2016 | Boys | 119 | 3,417 |
| 2016 | Girls | 11,661 | 9 |
| 2015 | Boys | 128 | 3,191 |
| 2015 | Girls | 11,711 | 9 |
| 2014 | Boys | 137 | 2,937 |
| 2014 | Girls | 18,857 | 5 |
Rankings are calculated separately for boys and girls. Records below the publication threshold may be missing; gaps are not zero births.
No nicknames are listed yet. The name can stand beautifully on its own.
Keep the possibilities coming
More names with a similar feeling or shared roots.
Irish or English
“between two hills”
German form of Latin Augustus
“great, magnificent”
Scottish form of Columba, Latin
“dove”
Place name
“white”
Latin, variation of Cassius
“hollow”
Greek variation of Elijah, Hebrew
“Yahweh is God”