Silas Name Meaning

By Christine Coppa
Updated on July 27, 2021
Fact checked by Rich Scherr
Blond baby boy on track

Tatyana Tomsickova Photography / Getty Images

If you're looking for an equally cool and strong name for your baby boy, you can't go wrong with Silas.

A well-known Greek and Latin name, Silas means "wood" or "forest." Sylvanus was the Roman god of the countryside and his name was originally bestowed on people who lived in wooded areas or who worked with wood.

In the New Testament, St. Silas was a leading member of the early Christian community who accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey.

  • Origin: Greek, Latin
  • Gender: Silas is traditionally a male-given name meaning "wood," or "of the forest."
  • Pronunciation: Sigh-Lus or Sigh-Liss

Although many baby names are separated by gender, Verywell Family believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.

How Popular Is the Name Silas?

Silas is the No. 100 most popular boy's name in the U.S., according to 2020 Social Security Administration data. All told, 3,599 boys were named Silas last year, representing 0.197% of total male births in 2020.

That's the most popular the name has been since at least 1900.

Name Variations

The following are variations of the name Silas:

  • Saul (Hebrew)
  • Silvanus (Latin)
  • Sylvanus (Latin)

Similar Names

Similar sounding names to Silas:

  • Atlas
  • Caleb
  • Cyrus
  • Dante
  • Linus
  • Simon
  • Tyrus
  • Wallace

Other boy names starting with S:

  • Samual
  • Santiago
  • Santino
  • Saul
  • Sawyer
  • Sebastian
  • Sergio
  • Seth
  • Shane
  • Spencer
  • Stephen
  • Sullivan

Suggested Sibling Names

Looking for a sibling name for Silas? Here are some popular options:

  • Atticus
  • Anya
  • Beatrice
  • Jude
  • Juliette
  • Levi
  • Milo
  • Penelope

Famous People Named Silas

Notable people named Silas include actors, athletes, and writers. The name and its variations have also popped up on the big and small screens.

Famous Silases

  • Silas Randall Timberlake, the first-born son of Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
  • Silas Weir Mitchell, American actor, known for starring as Charles "Haywire" Patoshik in the Fox television series "Prison Break"
  • Silas Dwane House, American writer, music journalist, and columnist
  • Silas Wamangituka Fundu, Congolese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart
  • Silas Lima Malafaia, Brazilian Pentecostal pastor, author and televangelist

Fictional Silases

  • Silas Botwin, played by Hunter Parrish in the Showtime series, "Weeds" (2005-2012)
  • Silas Adams, played by Titus Welliver in the HBO series, "Deadwood" (2004-2006)
  • Silas, the antagonist played by Paul Bettany in the film "The Da Vinci Code" (2006)

More Baby Names

Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:


2 Sources
Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Encyclopedia Britannica. Silvanus Roman god.

  2. Social Security Administration. Popularity of the Name Silas.

By Christine Coppa
Christine is a lifestyle journalist with 17 years of professional experience and the author of the parenting book, Rattled! 

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