Given name & surname
Silas
“a woodland dweller”
Silas is a form of Silvanus. One Latin interpretation is “a woodland dweller.”
Original GreekΣιλας
Meaning & origin
What it means
In Latin use, Silas carries the interpretation “a woodland dweller.” Silas is a form of Silvanus. One Latin interpretation is “a woodland dweller.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
Silas is used as a form of Silvanus.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
In the Bible
In the Bible, the name Silas appears in Acts 15:32, Genesis 2:10, Exodus 27:2 and 4 other passages.
- Acts 15:32
- Genesis 2:10
- Exodus 27:2
- Acts 16:14
- Acts 17:14
- Acts 18:5
- Acts 18:6
From biblical name research
Silas through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 75,649
- 75,465 boys · 184 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 4,646 babies
- 2025
- 4,646
- #71 for boys · #12,991 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +19%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 4,639 U.S. birth records for boys, ranking No. 71 among boys’ names. Average annual use for boys was 19.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 7 birth records for girls in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for boys with this name (423). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 40,869 as a first name in 2020; 4,352 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Silas’s family of names
In English usage, Silas has a diminutive in Si. In English usage, Silas shares an earlier linguistic root with Saul. In English usage, Silas has a conventional equivalent in the Hawaiian form KILA.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Silas has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
7 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 11
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Sylasvariant · French, Polish
- Sylusvariant
- Silusvariant
- Sylesvariant
- Sidiminutive · English
- Sillaslikely variant
- Silasslikely variant
- Sylousvariant
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Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 9
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Sauldoublet · English, German
- Silaequivalent
- Silvanusbase name · German
- Zilasequivalent
- KilaHawaiian
- Szilasequivalent
- Σιλᾶςequivalent
- Σιλουανόςequivalent
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See also 9
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
- Shaulshares a root
- Silvanosee also
- Selwynsee also
- Shealtielshares a root
- Shealshares a root
- Salushares a root
- Sallaishares a root
- Sallushares a root
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People named Silas
- Silas Weir MitchellAmerican actorborn 1970
- Silas Katompa MvumpaDR Congolese footballerborn 1998
- Silas CarsonEnglish actorborn 1965
- Silas KiplagatKenyan distance runnerborn 1989
- Silas Weir MitchellAmerican physician (1829–1914)
- Silas DeaneAmerican politician (1737-1789)
- Silas Silvius NjiruKenyan catholic bishop (1928–2020)
- Silas WrightAmerican politician (1795-1847)
- Silas NwankwoNigerian footballer (born 2003)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Silas, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“roman” · “a citizen of Rome”
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“a skilled bowman”
99% boys · 1% girls
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Leo
“lion” · “resembling a lion”
>99% boys