The meaning of the name “Silas” is different in several languages, countries and cultures and has more than one possibly same or different meanings available.
Additional information: There are two possible origins for this name, but it is unknown which possibility is the most plausible. It could have come as a short form or variation of the name Silvanus, given first by the Greeks. Another possibility is that it is derived from the Hebrew name Saul. If it comes from Silvanus it would share the name’s meaning “of the forest”, while as a derivation of Saul it takes on the meaning “asked for” or “prayed for”. Silas was an early convert to Christianity, and a companion to St Paul, and later St Peter.
Known variations of the name Silas include Silvanus, Sylvain, Sylvan, Silvano, and Silouanos. Names that are possibly related to Silas can include Saul and Seila. There are no commonly used short forms of Silas.
The popularity of the masculine name Silas has never been recorded to reach very high levels in any countries around the world. In the US, it has always held a low rank, with a sharp trend upwards in usage during the mid-2000s through 2014 where it saw a peak at 116th most popular in 2013. In Denmark, this name has seen more popularity, being featured in the top 50 most popular boy's names from 2003 until 2012 and peaking at 21st most popular in 2010. In Switzerland, it was ranked in the top 100 most popular boy's names between 2004 and 2010.
Famous people and celebrities that share the name Silas include Silas Redd, a football player; Silas Weir Mitchell, an actor (the name Silas Weir Mitchell is also shared by a famous novelist); Silas Soule, an abolitionist in the US; and Silas Souza, a soccer player. 'Silas Marner' is a novel by George Eliot. In 'The Da Vinci Code' by Dan Brown, Silas is a murderous monk.
The first thing you should know if you are considering Silas for your baby's name is that in most countries all over the world the name Silas is a boy name.
The name Silas is of Latin origin, and is used mostly in English speaking countries but also in a few other countries and languages of the world.
If you consider naming your baby Silas we recommend you take note of the special meaning and history of the name as your baby’s name will play a big role in its life and your baby will hear it spoken every day. Searching for a name is a very important and fun process as it’s the very first gift you will give to your baby. Many people believe that the name can affect success in life, through their children's working career and other circumstances, so they choose more “respectable” names or name meanings as they believe that the name meaning reflects the personality of the child.
Silas Name Meaning
The meaning of Silas has more than one different etymologies. It has same or different meanings in other countries and languages. The different meanings of the name Silas are:
American meaning: From the forest or woods
Greek meaning: Asked for
Latin meaning: From the forest
Keep in mind that many names may have different meanings in other countries and languages, so be careful that the name that you choose doesn’t mean something bad or unpleasant. Search comprehensively and find the name meaning of Silas and its name origin or of any other name in our database. Also note the spelling and the pronunciation of the name Silas and check the initials of the name with your last name to discover how it looks and sounds. The history and meaning of the name Silas is fascinating, learn more about it. (If you know more meanings of the name and you would like to contribute click here to submit another name meaning).
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Name Silas Categories
The name Silas is in the following categories: American Names, Biblical Names, Canadian Names, Christian Names, Classic Names, English Names, Greek Names, Latin Names. (If you would like to suggest one or more categories for the name, click here). We have plenty of different baby name categories to search for special meanings plus popular and unique names, search our database before choosing but also note that baby name categories designed to help you and not to be an influential factor when choosing a name. Instead, we recommend that you pay a greater attention to the origin and meaning of the name Silas. Read our baby name articles for useful tips regarding baby names and naming your baby. If you are thinking of giving your baby the beautiful name Silas, spread the love and share this with your friends.
Popularity of the Name Silas
Below you will find the popularity of the baby name Silas displayed annually, from 1880 to the present day in our name popularity chart. Hover over or click on the dots that represent a year to see how many babies were given the name for that year, for both genders, if available.
Silas Boy Name Popularity Chart
Silas Girl Name Popularity Chart
Note:The data above is from the Social Security Administrator of United States, (more info here) from Social Security card applications for births in US for every name, from 1880 up to the present year. The gender associated with the name might be incorrect, as the data presents the record applications without being edited for errors. The name's popularity and ranking is announced annually, so the data for this year will not be available until next year. The more babies that are given a name, the higher popularity ranking the name receives. For names with the same popularity, the tie is solved by assigning popularity rank in alphabetical order. This means that if two or more names have the same popularity their rankings may differ significantly, as they are set in alphabetical order. If a name has less than five occurrences, the SSA excludes it from the provided data to protect privacy.
If you’re not sure yet, see our wide selection of both boy names and girl names all over the world to find the ideal name for your new born baby. We offer a comprehensive and meaningful list of popular names and cool names along with the name's origin, meaning, pronunciation, popularity and additional information.
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Do your research and choose a name wisely, kindly and selflessly.
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