Silas
Boy name · #71 in 2025 · Well-known
How old is the name Silas? In official American birth records, Silas has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Silas is currently the #71 boy name in the United States — 4,639 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #128, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 388 boys born in 2025 was named Silas.
Babies named Silas per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 145-year story
Silas first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 98 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 4,639 babies and a rank of #71. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Silas against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Silas in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Silas is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "well-known". A low score means broad familiarity: teachers will spell it right, and your child may share it with a classmate. For many families that's a feature, not a bug.
Where Silas is most common
Geography matters for names, and Silas is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Silas is most common in ME (8.1 per 1,000), WV (7.6 per 1,000), MT (7.4 per 1,000), AK (7 per 1,000), ND (6.6 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 3.2 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Silas is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Silas
Statistically, parents drawn to Silas tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Atlas, Brooks, Myles, Miles, and Matias.
AtlasBrooksMylesMilesMatiasRowanDallasAugust
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Silas | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 4,639 | #71 |
| 2024 | 4,127 | #81 |
| 2023 | 4,105 | #80 |
| 2022 | 4,032 | #86 |
| 2021 | 3,916 | #91 |
| 2020 | 3,645 | #100 |
| 2019 | 3,566 | #105 |
| 2018 | 3,518 | #110 |
| 2017 | 3,340 | #120 |
| 2016 | 3,417 | #119 |
| 2015 | 3,191 | #128 |
| 2014 | 2,937 | #137 |
| 2013 | 3,413 | #116 |
| 2012 | 2,497 | #160 |
| 2011 | 2,118 | #183 |
| 2010 | 1,632 | #219 |
| 2009 | 1,377 | #252 |
| 2008 | 1,074 | #309 |
| 2007 | 940 | #343 |
| 2006 | 800 | #372 |
| 2005 | 660 | #412 |
| 2004 | 611 | #430 |
| 2003 | 562 | #447 |
| 2002 | 580 | #429 |
| 2001 | 376 | #558 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Silas?
In official American birth records, the name Silas first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 98 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Silas a popular boy name?
Silas ranked #71 among boys in 2025 with 4,639 babies given the name — firmly in the top 100, so yes, it’s a popular choice. Ten years earlier it ranked #128.
When was the name Silas most popular?
Silas peaked in 2025, when 4,639 American boys received the name (ranked #71 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Silas?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 388 newborn American boys was named Silas. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "well-known".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.