Silas Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Silas is predominantly used for boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Silas?
Silas is spelled S-I-L-A-S. The name has 5 letters.
Silas at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for boys
- Meaning
- Silas is commonly interpreted to mean “wood” or “forest.”
- Origin
- Silas is a name of Latin origin and is often understood as a shortened form of Silvanus, the name of a Roman forest deity.
- Pronunciation
- SIE-las · 2 syllables
Silas Popularity in 2025
Rank#11,932
Recorded Births7
Rank#71
Recorded Births4,639
- Girls usage fell 5,000 places to #11,932 and recorded 9 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 10 places to #71 and recorded 512 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Silas Mean?
Silas is commonly interpreted to mean “wood” or “forest.”
Origin: Silas is a name of Latin origin and is often understood as a shortened form of Silvanus, the name of a Roman forest deity.
How Do You Pronounce Silas?
PronunciationSIE-las
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Silas?
- History
- The name Silas appears in early Christian texts, including the New Testament where he is described as a companion of the Apostle Paul.
Silas Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 7 | #11,932 |
| 2025 | Boys | 4,639 | #71 |
| 2024 | Girls | 16 | #6,932 |
| 2024 | Boys | 4,127 | #81 |
| 2023 | Girls | 18 | #6,409 |
| 2023 | Boys | 4,105 | #80 |
| 2022 | Girls | 20 | #5,984 |
| 2022 | Boys | 4,032 | #86 |
| 2021 | Girls | 14 | #7,630 |
| 2021 | Boys | 3,916 | #91 |
| 2020 | Girls | 11 | #8,953 |
| 2020 | Boys | 3,645 | #100 |
| 2019 | Girls | 12 | #8,597 |
| 2019 | Boys | 3,566 | #105 |
| 2018 | Girls | 15 | #7,409 |
| 2018 | Boys | 3,518 | #110 |
| 2017 | Girls | 14 | #7,840 |
| 2017 | Boys | 3,340 | #120 |
| 2016 | Girls | 9 | #10,859 |
| 2016 | Boys | 3,417 | #119 |
| 2015 | Girls | 9 | #10,866 |
| 2015 | Boys | 3,191 | #128 |
| 2014 | Girls | 5 | #16,513 |
| 2014 | Boys | 2,937 | #137 |
When Was Silas Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Boys
4,639 recorded births
National rank #71
2024 · Boys
4,127 recorded births
National rank #81
2023 · Boys
4,105 recorded births
National rank #80
2022 · Boys
4,032 recorded births
National rank #86
Where Silas Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Boys
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WV | #19 | 47 |
| AR | #20 | 77 |
| MS | #21 | 63 |
| OK | #22 | 104 |
| ME | #23 | 31 |
| SC | #25 | 116 |
| MT | #27 | 28 |
| KY | #32 | 112 |