Silas
SYE-lus /ˈsaɪ.ləs/
Meaning of Silas
Silas appears in the New Testament (Acts 15) as a missionary companion of Paul. The Greek form Silas may be a short form of the Latin Silvanus ('of the woods') or, by an older theory, an Aramaic form of Saul. The name had quiet Puritan-era use; the modern revival begins around 2000.
Current popularity of Silas
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #90 |
Notable bearers of Silas
Silas (New Testament); Silas Marner (George Eliot, 1861).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Silas — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31