gender neutral
Silas
wood, forest
About Silas
Understated yet undeniably strong, Silas represents the perfect blend of classic appeal and contemporary coolness. This ancient name has experienced a remarkable renaissance, winning over modern parents who appreciate its earthy, grounded quality combined with sophisticated simplicity. The two syllables create pleasing rhythm while the soft "s" sounds give it a gentle strength that never feels harsh or aggressive.
Silas carries literary and historical connections that add intellectual depth without feeling academic or stuffy. It's the name of farmers and philosophers, artists and adventurers—versatile enough to fit any personality or path. The name feels both rooted and fresh, traditional yet perfectly suited to today's naming landscape.
What makes Silas particularly appealing is its rarity combined with familiarity—uncommon enough to feel special but recognized enough to avoid constant spelling corrections. It pairs beautifully with virtually any middle name or surname, offering flexibility in creating a complete name combination. Parents selecting Silas give their son a name that will age gracefully, never feeling childish or dated, maintaining its quiet confidence throughout an entire lifetime.
Popularity of the Name Silas
Rank among the 1,000 most popular baby names, by year.
| United States | United Kingdom | New Zealand | Ireland | Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | #140 | ||||
| 1881 | #166 | ||||
| 1882 | #149 | ||||
| 1883 | #162 | ||||
| 1884 | #170 | ||||
| 1885 | #180 | ||||
| 1886 | #179 | ||||
| 1887 | #192 | ||||
| 1888 | #208 | ||||
| 1889 | #196 | ||||
| 1890 | #168 | ||||
| 1891 | #207 | ||||
| 1892 | #179 | ||||
| 1893 | #225 | ||||
| 1894 | #230 | ||||
| 1895 | #210 | ||||
| 1896 | #228 | ||||
| 1897 | #241 | ||||
| 1898 | #261 | ||||
| 1899 | #226 | ||||
| 1900 | #249 | ||||
| 1901 | #289 | ||||
| 1902 | #251 | ||||
| 1903 | #272 | ||||
| 1904 | #269 | ||||
| 1905 | #310 | ||||
| 1906 | #272 | ||||
| 1907 | #321 | ||||
| 1908 | #324 | ||||
| 1909 | #287 | ||||
| 1910 | #310 | ||||
| 1911 | #362 | ||||
| 1912 | #371 | ||||
| 1913 | #376 | ||||
| 1914 | #359 | ||||
| 1915 | #380 | ||||
| 1916 | #404 | ||||
| 1917 | #394 | ||||
| 1918 | #394 | ||||
| 1919 | #411 | ||||
| 1920 | #398 | ||||
| 1921 | #405 | ||||
| 1922 | #413 | ||||
| 1923 | #423 | ||||
| 1924 | #420 | ||||
| 1925 | #406 | ||||
| 1926 | #417 | ||||
| 1927 | #452 | ||||
| 1928 | #474 | ||||
| 1929 | #449 | ||||
| 1930 | #429 | ||||
| 1931 | #437 | ||||
| 1932 | #464 | ||||
| 1933 | #469 | ||||
| 1934 | #480 | ||||
| 1935 | #474 | ||||
| 1936 | #468 | ||||
| 1937 | #559 | ||||
| 1938 | #477 | ||||
| 1939 | #487 | ||||
| 1940 | #538 | ||||
| 1941 | #551 | ||||
| 1942 | #508 | ||||
| 1943 | #540 | ||||
| 1944 | #563 | ||||
| 1945 | #576 | ||||
| 1946 | #539 | ||||
| 1947 | #594 | ||||
| 1948 | #638 | ||||
| 1949 | #572 | ||||
| 1950 | #630 | ||||
| 1951 | #717 | ||||
| 1952 | #697 | ||||
| 1953 | #676 | ||||
| 1954 | #672 | ||||
| 1955 | #769 | ||||
| 1956 | #733 | ||||
| 1957 | #704 | ||||
| 1958 | #730 | ||||
| 1959 | #785 | ||||
| 1960 | #860 | ||||
| 1961 | #821 | ||||
| 1962 | #859 | ||||
| 1963 | #777 | ||||
| 1964 | #912 | ||||
| 1965 | #784 | ||||
| 1966 | #859 | ||||
| 1968 | #928 | ||||
| 1969 | #950 | ||||
| 1970 | #977 | ||||
| 1971 | #956 | ||||
| 1972 | #939 | ||||
| 1973 | #823 | ||||
| 1974 | #890 | ||||
| 1975 | #791 | ||||
| 1976 | #837 | ||||
| 1977 | #880 | ||||
| 1978 | #801 | ||||
| 1979 | #824 | ||||
| 1980 | #818 | ||||
| 1981 | #759 | ||||
| 1982 | #833 | ||||
| 1983 | #788 | ||||
| 1984 | #869 | ||||
| 1985 | #838 | ||||
| 1986 | #846 | ||||
| 1987 | #850 | ||||
| 1988 | #888 | ||||
| 1989 | #936 | ||||
| 1990 | #953 | ||||
| 1991 | #910 | ||||
| 1992 | #817 | #785 | |||
| 1993 | #850 | ||||
| 1994 | #866 | ||||
| 1995 | #753 | #830 | |||
| 1996 | #740 | #569 | |||
| 1997 | #693 | #993 | #693 | ||
| 1998 | #681 | #533 | |||
| 1999 | #624 | #848 | #535 | ||
| 2000 | #602 | #994 | #541 | ||
| 2001 | #558 | #924 | #606 | ||
| 2002 | #431 | #769 | #311 | ||
| 2003 | #448 | #908 | #365 | ||
| 2004 | #430 | #986 | #409 | ||
| 2005 | #412 | #922 | #396 | ||
| 2006 | #372 | #901 | #358 | ||
| 2007 | #344 | #859 | #343 | ||
| 2008 | #310 | #799 | #310 | ||
| 2009 | #252 | #884 | #373 | #254 | |
| 2010 | #219 | #909 | #415 | #252 | |
| 2011 | #183 | #215 | |||
| 2012 | #160 | #191 | |||
| 2013 | #116 | #998 | #161 | ||
| 2014 | #137 | #970 | #180 | ||
| 2015 | #128 | #326 | #843 | #161 | |
| 2016 | #119 | #285 | #153 | ||
| 2017 | #120 | #943 | #280 | #832 | #167 |
| 2018 | #110 | #782 | #326 | #842 | #156 |
| 2019 | #105 | #690 | #214 | #157 | |
| 2020 | #100 | #765 | #322 | #879 | #151 |
| 2021 | #91 | #750 | #279 | #148 | |
| 2022 | #87 | #694 | #249 | #125 | |
| 2023 | #80 | #770 | #184 | #137 | |
| 2024 | #81 | #502 | #229 | #139 | |
| 2025 | #71 | #607 | #167 | #132 |
Top names by country: United States · United Kingdom · New Zealand · Ireland · Canada
Variations of Name Silas
Names Similar to Silas
Nicknames for Silas
- Si
- Silo
- Sy
- Sly
Famous People Named Silas
| Silas Marner | Protagonist of George Eliot's novel "Silas Marner" |
| Silas Weir Mitchell | American physician and writer |
| Silas Randall Timberlake | Son of singer Justin Timberlake and actress Jessica Biel |
| Silas Selleck | Founder of Selleck, Washington |
| Silas Quinn | British author and crime novelist |
| Silas Stringham | American naval officer |
| Silas Deane | American diplomat and politician |
| Silas Hogan | American blues musician |
| Silas Chou | Hong Kong fashion executive |
| Silas House | American writer and activist |
| Silas Baxter-Neal | American professional skateboarder |
| Silas Hocking | British novelist and Methodist preacher |
| Silas Gaither | American reality TV personality |
| Silas Talbot | American naval officer |
| Silas Soule | American abolitionist and soldier |
| Silas Simmons | African-American centenarian and former slave |
| Silas Bullock | American politician and businessman |
| Silas Betancourt | Brazilian footballer |
| Silas Kiplagat | Kenyan middle-distance runner |
Characters Named Silas
| Silas Blissett | Hollyoaks - Character in the British soap opera "Hollyoaks" |
| Silas Stone | DC Comics - Character in the DC Comics universe |
| Silas Heap | Septimus Heap series - Character in the fantasy series by Angie Sage |
| Silas Ramsbottom | Despicable Me 2 - Character in the animated film "Despicable Me 2" |
| Silas Baxter | Inception - Character in the film "Inception" |
| Silas Mercer | The Expanse - Character in the science fiction series "The Expanse" |
| Silas Botwin | Weeds - Character in the TV series "Weeds" |
| Silas Phantasm | Silas the Magic Car - Character in the children's book series by Jenny Dale |
| Silas Hudson | Peyton Place - Character in the TV series "Peyton Place" |
| Silas Ramsay | Downton Abbey - Character in the TV series "Downton Abbey" |
| Silas Skinner | The Strain - Character in the horror novel series "The Strain" |
| Silas Kettleburn | Harry Potter - Character mentioned in the Harry Potter series |
| Silas Pennyweather | Stardust - Character in Neil Gaiman's novel "Stardust" |
| Silas Greene | Alias - Character in the TV series "Alias" |
| Silas P. Silas | The League of Gentlemen - Character in the British comedy series "The League of Gentlemen" |
| Silas Marner | Silas Marner - Protagonist of George Eliot's novel "Silas Marner" |
| Silas Goram | The Lord of the Rings - Character in J.R.R. Tolkien's novel "The Lord of the Rings" |