Silas Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Silas has its roots in Latin, meaning 'wood' or 'forest', and evolved through Greek into modern English. It is linked to biblical figures, reflecting traits of strength and loyalty. The name gained popularity in Christian contexts and is viewed positively today, associated with notable figures in literature and politics.
The name Silas is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Generation Alpha generation in the MidWest region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is gaining popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been consistently rising. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Silas has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been too falling for male in MidWest, too falling for male in Northeast, too falling for male in South, too falling for male in West. Across generations, 'Silas' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 392nd out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 489th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 713th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 875th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 851st out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 340th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 107th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 9107th out of 9107 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 23797th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8642nd out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Silas' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Silas"
Pronunciation
/ˈsaɪləs/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name Silas is derived from the Latin name 'Silvanus', which means 'wood' or 'forest'. It is often associated with the biblical figure Silas, a companion of Paul the Apostle.
Meaning
wood, forest
Language Evolution
Silvanus (Latin), Silas (Greek), Silas (English)
Biblical Background
Silas is mentioned in the New Testament as a prominent member of the early Christian community and a companion of Paul in his missionary journeys.
Historical Usage
The name Silas gained popularity in Christian contexts due to its biblical association, particularly from the 17th century onward.
Variants & Derivatives
Silvanus, Sila, Sy, Sally
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Silas is perceived as a strong and classic name, often associated with intelligence and reliability.
Famous People
Silas Marner (fictional character by George Eliot), Silas Weir Mitchell (American physician and author), Silas Wright (American politician)
Explore More Silas Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Silas"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Silas"
"Silas" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 392nd of 7545 | 3,681 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 489th of 6773 | 2,576 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 713th of 7552 | 1,987 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 875th of 10718 | 1,380 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 851st of 16616 | 2,194 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 340th of 24088 | 14,325 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 107th of 23106 | 43,155 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 9107th of 9107 | 5 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 23797th of 35406 | 24 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8642nd of 30306 | 148 |
Regional Popularity of "Silas" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
37.36% 529th/1416 |
43.80% 604th/1379 |
11.67% 276th/2366 |
85.99% 982nd/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
47.80% 739th/1546 |
47.04% 732nd/1556 |
15.34% 361st/2353 |
73.11% 1131st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
37.49% 835th/2227 |
45.56% 1107th/2430 |
20.43% 583rd/2853 |
41.41% 1149th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
34.66% 1018th/2937 |
37.61% 1310th/3483 |
27.00% 950th/3518 |
23.02% 931st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
23.12% 852nd/3685 |
25.65% 1148th/4475 |
18.48% 960th/5194 |
15.05% 951st/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
6.31% 289th/4582 |
7.11% 367th/5164 |
4.80% 351st/7313 |
4.52% 337th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
2.16% 86th/3984 |
2.81% 126th/4487 |
1.48% 101st/6822 |
1.98% 124th/6276 |
Regional Popularity of "Silas" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Silas"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Silas" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.