The meaning of the name Silas is of the forest or prayed for and is derived from the Latin word Silvanus. Silvanus is also the name of the Roman God of the countryside and was the protector of uncultivated land.
Silas is a biblical name but its origins are often debated. In the New Testament, St. Silas accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey. In the film, the Da Vinci Code Silas is the name of the albino monk.
- Origin of the name Silas: English, Latin
- Meaning of Silas: Means of the forest or prayed for.
- Pronunciation: Sy-liss
- Gender: Male
How Popular is the Name Silas?
The name Silas has never been highly ranked when it comes to baby names. But it has been in the top 1000 names since 1900. According to the Social Security Administration Data, in recent years popularity of the name Silas has increased and for the first time in its history, it made the top 100 baby names in 2020.
Variations of the Name Silas
If you are not 100% sold on the name Silas then choosing a variation of the name may be an option.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Saul | Means borrowed. | Hebrew |
| Silvanus | Means forest. | Latin |
| Sylvanus | Forest. | Latin |
| Sylas | Man of the forest. | English |
| Sylvain | Of the forest. | French |
| Silvan | Of the forest. | German |
| Silvino | Of the forest. | Spanish |
Other Amazing Boys Names with Latin Origin
If you have your heart set on a name with a Latin origin here are some other options.
| Name | Meaning |
| Atticus | From Attica |
| Felix | Happy, fortunate |
| Oliver | Means olive tree |
| Jude | Diminutive form of Judah and means praised. |
| Cassius | Means hollow |
| August | Means great or magnificent. |
| Miles | Soldier or merciful. |
Alternative Boy Names Starting with ‘S’
If you are set on choosing a name that begins with the letter ‘M’, here are some alternatives to Maria that may fit the bill.
| Name | Meaning | Origin |
| Samuel | His name is God | Hebrew |
| Santiago | Of St.James | Spanish |
| Sawyer | Wood cutter | English |
| Sebastian | Means venerable | Greek |
| Shane | God is gracious | Irish |
| Stephen | Means crown | Greek |
| Sander | Defender of the people | Dutch |
Famous People Named Silas
As a name that has not been as popular as other boys names, it is no surprise that there isn’t a huge number of famous people with the name Silas. Here are a few of those famous people bearing the name Silas.
- Silas Timberlake – Son of Justin Timberlake.
- Silas Weir Mitchell – American TV actor.
- Silas Robertson – Reality TV star.
- Silas Dwane House – American writer, and music journalist.
- Silas Lima Malafaia – A Brazilian Pentacostal pastor.