Rising since 1989, #71 for boys today.
Popularity of Silas since 1880
Babies named Silas per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 775 |
| 1890s | 631 |
| 1900s | 509 |
| 1910s | 1,553 |
| 1920s | 2,031 |
| 1930s | 1,482 |
| 1940s | 1,276 |
| 1950s | 1,050 |
| 1960s | 753 |
| 1970s | 922 |
| 1980s | 1,175 |
| 1990s | 1,907 |
| 2000s | 7,308 |
| 2010s | 29,629 |
| 2020s | 24,464 |
Meaning & origin
Silas is still climbing. Unlike most names in the top 100, whose peaks sit safely in the past, its strongest year on record is 2025 itself, when it ranked 71st nationally and went to about 1 in 368 newborn boys. The rise traces back to 1989, a long, unhurried ascent with no celebrity spike behind it, which usually signals a name with staying power.
The appeal is easy to locate. Silas carries first-century biblical credentials, a Puritan and colonial track record, and a 19th-century literary landmark in Silas Marner, yet its sound, two syllables, the fashionable long-I of Silas, Miles, and Isaiah, reads entirely current. Few names split the difference between grandfather and kindergartner so cleanly.
Its strongholds are Maine, West Virginia, and Montana: rural, wooded country, fittingly enough for a name most scholars trace to the Latin for "forest." If the trend since 1989 holds, Silas has room left to run before it meets the crowding that eventually slows every revival.
In the Acts of the Apostles, Silas is a leading member of the early church who accompanies Paul on his missionary journeys; the same man appears in the epistles under the name Silvanus. Most scholars therefore treat Silas as a Greek short form of the Latin Silvanus, "of the forest" (from silva, "wood"), though a competing theory derives it from an Aramaic form of the Hebrew Saul, "asked for, prayed for", the question is not settled. English Puritans adopted the name in the 17th century, and it became a fixture of 18th- and 19th-century America (diplomat Silas Deane; George Eliot chose it for her 1861 weaver, Silas Marner). It went dormant for most of the 20th century before the vintage-biblical revival returned it to the charts.
Read more: Silas on Wikipedia
Where Silas is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Silas” around the world
Where Silas lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
100
babies in 2024
New Zealand
29
babies in 2025
Quebec
6
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Si
Famous people named Silas
- Silas Deane · American diplomat of the Revolutionary era
- Silas Weir Mitchell · 19th-century American physician and novelist
Sibling names for Silas
Names that share Silas's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Willa, Hazel, June, Alice, Maeve, Aria, Aurora, Delilah, Evelyn, Ivy, Sadie, Stella, Violet, Esther, Flora, Juniper, Shiloh, Willow, Aerial, Almira, Althea, Amaris, Azalea, Cattleya, Coraline, Damaris, Deliah, Dorcas, Elvia, Ember, Emberlee, Harmony, Hosanna, Ione, Iris, Ivory, Lavinia, Lilith, Lorelei, Magnolia, Melodi, Novella, Nyssa, Oaklynn, Patience, Phoebe, Rhema, Salem, Samara, Sarai, Serene, Serina, Sevyn, Stacia, Terra, Vesta, Waverly, Abilene, Acacia, Aeris, Amaryllis, Anise, Arwen, Aurea, Cassia, Charis, Charita, Crysta, Delphia, Elysia, Emberlyn, Eudora, Floria, Gardenia, Hermon, Junia, Juno, Keturah, Kezia, Keziah, Lanna, Lavonia, Lillith, Lotus, Lucina, Lynnea, Mahala, Mazikeen, Melita, Merari, Nelia, Neysa, Novalee, Novaleigh, Nydia, October, Odelia, Phebe, Rosena, Samaria, Solana, Sumer, Talitha, Tirzah, Verona, Wrenleigh, Aloura, Amorah, Anthea, Aquilla, Armelia, Artelia, Asenath, Aviona, Azilee, Azora, Calysta, Carmilla, Cecila, Celinda, Cerena, Chessa, Coralynn, Cyrena, Cyrilla, Daphnie, Devera, Edelyn, Electa, Elianah, Eriel, Euphemia, Everli, Havilah, Helana, Huldah, Iantha, Ivorie, Izora, Jemimah, Klover, Koraline, Laurell, Lethia, Leva, Levina, Lilyth, Loreli, Maevis, Magdeline, Malissia, Malissie, Maranatha, Marleah, Media, Mercie, Myria, Nolia, Odetta, Permelia, Persis, Precilla, Prescilla, Prisca, Providence, Raevyn, Raini, Raiven, Reverie, Roselia, Rozalyn, Sativa, Sedonia, Seleste, Sidonia, Syliva, Sylva, Sylvania, Syrena, Syria, Tabytha, Theora, Tomara, Valora, Vesper, Xylia, Yuvia, Zera, Zilpha, Admire, Adonia, Aeriel, Aldea, Aleera, Aleria, Aletheia, Amarys, Anorah, Apphia, Arria, Arriel, Arrietty, Aulora, Aurorah, Avalene, Azalia, Azarie, Bethsaida, Candia, Capria, Celes, Chalice, Chloris, Cyann, Dhalia, Dorcus, Elaia, Eleny, Ellora, Ellowyn, Elody, Elorah, Elyna, Emmylou, Evely, Evoleth, Faun, Florena, Galena, Genever, Haiven, Haizel, Halena, Icelynn, Idali, Ilea, Io, Ionna, Iridessa, Irisa, Isel, Isella, Isola, Ivoree, Jirah, Kattleya, Kharis, Laelia, Lauryl, Leara, Levana, Levita, Loralye, Loreda, Lorilei, Lunabella, Luvinia, Lydian, Lynora, Madora, Mahalie, Malva, Merryn, Moriyah, Myrical, Naevia, Nixie, Novali, Novalynn, Oaklynne, Olivine, Omelia, Poet, Prudy, Roslin, Rovena, Sabriel, Serrina, Sirenity, Skarlette, Sylena, Telitha, Tessla, Thecla, Theona, Thirza, Valetta, Wrenna, Wyllow, Zamia, Zilla, Arilla, Celica, Emberlie, Estellar, Evalie, Everlea, Fauna, Karris, Laelle, Ovida, Remedi, Sylina, Syrina, Abrial, Acsa, Adoree, Aelita, Airess, Aizel, Aldonia, Aleysia, Aloria, Alveria, Alvita, Amarylis, Amoria, Anori, Aradia, Aroura, Asenat, Atalia, Avalin, Azaela, Azaelia, Azaleia, Azaleya, Azalya, Azaylie, Azelea, Baela, Brietta, Calvina, Cardelia, Cecia, Cedra, Charidy, Cilicia, Clovia, Cordella, Cortana, Cynara, Delvina, Elide, Ellaria, Elliona, Eloa, Elowen, Elvenia, Emberlin, Emera, Ephrata, Erabella, Esmi, Essance, Etrulia, Evanora, Evoleht, Fawna, Grettell, Hazelgrace, Hollan, Hollin, Hyla, Icel, Idelia, Idonia, Ineze, Irys, Isaly, Johonna, Judaea, Koralynn, Lamara, Larimar, Laurelin, Leeona, Leily, Letetia, Lucelia, Lucilia, Maeryn, Memori, Minola, Moria, Nelliel, Nolynn, Novalei, Novis, Octa, Odessia, Olenna, Ophia, Orilla, Orphia, Peony, Rarity, Rayvn, Rhesa, Roiza, Salice, Sanora, Sanova, Sarrinah, Saveah, Seleni, Sila, Silena, Simara, Simora, Sinia, Sophira, Statia, Stellarose, Symphani, Syrah, Syren, Tilia, Tryphena, Velisa, Verginia, Winnona, Xenovia, Zephyra, Zeplyn, Zerah
Brothers: Atticus, Henry, Jasper, Graham, Beckett, Asher, Cassian, Elias, Ezra, Hudson, Josiah, Levi, Jase, Jude, Tobias, Abner, Alden, Amias, Basil, Canaan, Crispin, Deacon, Dexter, Drexel, Eber, Enoch, Finis, Gideon, Hiram, Jareth, Judson, Justus, Leander, Misael, Orrin, Rufus, Samson, Thaddeus, Titus, Wiley, Zeke, Zephyr, Almon, Chancey, Cypress, Eben, Esdras, Ezell, Heber, Isom, Jairus, Jeb, Jethro, Julious, Kain, Lige, Lucious, Makari, Malaki, Phineas, Sylus, Syrus, Talmage, Theophilus, Tytus, Yancey, Zacchaeus, Alpheus, Ananias, Azel, Barnabas, Benuel, Caelum, Calix, Cashius, Cephas, Cephus, Corvin, Cylis, Cylus, Daimon, Emerick, Ephram, Eulas, Finneas, Isaah, Jabez, Jeremia, Kalon, Nicodemus, Orien, Philemon, Sabian, Sylis, Tavius, Thaddaeus, Thaddius, Thadius, Zaccheus, Zenas, Zephan, Alanson, Amish, Apollos, Arkin, Armias, Attikus, Axiel, Calian, Cleophas, Colden, Corion, Eldin, Elihue, Emmaus, Emrick, Erastus, Ezel, Festus, Ithiel, Izick, Jakin, Jasher, Jazper, Joram, Kashius, Kaspian, Kastiel, Kizer, Korvin, Levii, Mathius, Oakes, Onix, Peregrine, Phelix, Solan, Syris, Tekoa, Urie, Weller, Wylan, Cashmir, Amaurie, Antino, Caspen, Corvus, Cyrie, Damascus, Daschel, Elvan, Elysian, Emerik, Essiah, Ezren, Ezryn, Felis, Gedeon, Isair, Juell, Karmel, Lavin, Lennex, Leonell, Loden, Lucion, Macarius, Phinneas, Savyon, Silvan, Sonder, Soryn, Syer, Syire, Tallis, Timotheus, Zebulan
Names like Silas
Names whose popularity has moved with Silas's over the last 50 years.
