Silas
Silas is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “wood, forest.” It ranked #64 in the United States in 2025. Silas derives from the Latin 'silva' (forest) and appears in the New Testament as Paul's companion.
how do you pronounce Silas?
SY-las
Hear it spoken aloud with our AI pronunciation tool.
what does Silas mean?
The name Silas means “wood, forest.” It comes from the Latin language tradition.
Silas derives from the Latin 'silva' (forest) and appears in the New Testament as Paul's companion. George Eliot's 'Silas Marner' gave it literary depth. Justin Timberlake naming his son Silas helped its rapid modern ascent.
where does the name Silas come from?
Generally taken as a Greek short form of Silvanus, from the Latin silva meaning wood or forest. An alternative traces it to the Aramaic form of Saul, and the New Testament's use of both Silas and Silvanus for what appears to be the same man leaves the question genuinely open.
the history of Silas
Silas travelled with Paul on the second missionary journey and is imprisoned with him at Philippi, where the earthquake opens the prison doors. George Eliot's Silas Marner gave the name a nineteenth-century literary life. It fell out of use for most of the twentieth century and returned to the American top hundred in the 2020s.
how popular is this name?
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2024 | #64 |
| 2023 | #70 |
| 2022 | #78 |
| 2021 | #88 |
| 2020 | #100 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset
what are the nicknames and variants of Silas?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
who are famous people named Silas?
- Silas Timberlake (son of Justin Timberlake)
- Silas Marner (George Eliot novel)
- Silas (biblical companion of Paul)
what names are similar to Silas?
what names go well with Silas?
Sibling names that share Silas's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
Last reviewed April 30, 2026 · Curated by HushName editorial
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