Silas

Silas - A unique male name

Silas appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #387. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Silas and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Silas? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Silas. The baby boy name Silas was given to 4,639 baby boys in 2025, ranking #71 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 316 baby boys were given this name - making this a unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Silas peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 71.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Silas, 1-5?

Silas is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Silas is currently topping the baby name charts in West Virginia at position #19 - and is the least popular in District of Columbia at position #165.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Silas is where you live.

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Silas origin and meaning

Latin and Greek form used in the New Testament

Uncertain — often linked to Latin silva, "wood, forest", via Silvanus, but Silas may instead be a Greek shortening of an Aramaic name

Silas is Paul's companion in the New Testament, where he also appears under the fuller name Silvanus. The name was common in Puritan and early American naming, faded, and has now revived to its highest point in the data in 2025.

Origin uncertain

Silas is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Silas, pop culture references for the name Silas and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Silas

We've found the following names that sound similar to Silas, sorted by popularity.

Sylas / Shlok / Sylus / Sylis / Selig / Selso / Shalik / Salesi / Seals / Shaleek /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Silas

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Silas a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Silas?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

SY-lus · /ˈsaɪləs/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

Nicknames: Si

Famous bearers

• Silas — Companion of Paul in the New Testament's Book of Acts (Biblical) Historical

Style

BiblicalVintage revival

Why parents choose it

Parents like its mix of biblical roots and a soft, woodsy, old-fashioned feel — it is the current face of the vintage revival for boys.