Silas means ‘of the forest’ or ‘prayed for’ and the name is derived from the Latin 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, Silas accompanied Saint Paul on his second missionary journey. In the film, the Da Vinci Code, Silas is the name of the albino monk.
- Name Origin: English, Latin
- 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.
Name Variations
| 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 Latin Boy Names
| 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’
| 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
- 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.