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Name at a glance

Silas

Silas is a New Testament name, often linked with Silvanus and possibly connected with woodland or forest imagery.

Ranked #71 in US baby names in 2025, rising over the past 5 years.

Silas is remembered as a missionary companion of Paul and a faithful witness in Acts, including the prison scene where Paul and Silas pray and sing.

Browse names
OriginLatin, Greek
GenderBoy
FeelMissionary
PronunciationSY-lus

Is Silas biblical?

Yes

Biblical status Direct biblical person

Silas is a named person in Acts, a missionary companion of Paul, also named in the epistles and often identified with Silvanus.

Is Silas a Christian name?

Yes

Christian tradition Foundational, across traditions

Silas is an early Christian missionary and a saint commemorated among the Seventy Apostles across Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican tradition.

Plain answer

Silas is a biblical name borne by Paul's missionary companion in Acts, and it carries cross-tradition Christian heritage through his apostolic and saintly memory.

Confidence Moderate Last reviewed July 19, 2026 How this works

Meaning

The meaning of Silas

Silas is often treated as a shortened form of Silvanus, a Latin-rooted name connected with woodland imagery. In Christian use, the New Testament story is the stronger association.

Acts

Paul and Silas

Silas travels with Paul in Acts and is part of the missionary work that carries the gospel into new places.

One of the most memorable scenes places Paul and Silas in prison, praying and singing hymns at midnight. That gives the name associations with endurance, worship, and witness under pressure.

Name feel

Ancient but modern-sounding

Silas has the advantage of being biblical, concise, and contemporary in sound. It feels less expected than Luke or John but much easier than many rare New Testament names.

For families, it can bridge scriptural depth and modern usability.

Sound

How to pronounce Silas

Phonetic
SY-lus
IPA
/ˈsaɪləs/

2 syllables · stress: SY-lus · ends in a consonant

Forms

Variants and nicknames

Alternate spellings

  • Silvanus
  • Silvano
  • Silvio
  • Silouanos

Short forms and nicknames

  • Si
  • Sy

Languages

Silas in other languages

Greek
ΣίλαςSilas
Latin
SilasLatin Silvanus is the older, fuller form attested in 1 Thessalonians 1:1 and 1 Peter 5:12, often identified with the same person.
Spanish
Silas
French
Silas
German
Silas
Italian
Sila
Russian
СилаSila

Christian background

Christian and biblical background

Silas is important in early Christian mission and appears with Paul in Acts. The related form Silvanus also appears in New Testament letters.

Scripture

The biblical figure

Silas is a missionary companion of Paul in Acts and a fellow worker in the early church.

Bearers

Notable people named Silas

  • biblical

    SilasCompanion of Paul in Acts and named in 1 and 2 Thessalonians and 1 Peter, often identified with Silvanus

  • historical

    Silas DeaneAmerican merchant, lawyer, and first US diplomat sent abroad during the Revolution, 1737 to 1789

  • historical

    Silas Weir MitchellAmerican physician and writer, pioneer of neurology, 1829 to 1914

  • historical

    Silas MarnerTitle character of the 1861 George Eliot novel about a weaver in the English Midlands

Saint

Saint Silas (Silvanus)

Traditions
Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican

Orthodox tradition commemorates Silas among the Seventy Apostles and with the Synaxis of the Seventy. The Roman Martyrology lists Silas under the form Silvanus.

Naming history

Naming tradition and history

Silas has become increasingly usable in modern English while keeping a strong biblical identity. It feels both old and fresh.

Recent US use

Silas in recent US use

Rank in 2025
#71
Peak rank
#71 in 2025
Recent trend
rising over the last 5 years
Years in the SSA records
146 (since 1880)

Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.

Sibling fit

Sibling name suggestions

For families

For families looking at Silas

For a Christian family, Silas offers a strong New Testament name with worship and endurance associations. It is distinctive without being obscure.

Common questions

What does Silas mean?

Silas is often linked with Silvanus, which may be connected with woodland or forest imagery.

Is Silas a biblical name?

Yes. Silas appears in Acts as a companion of Paul.

Is Silas related to Silvanus?

Yes. Silas is commonly connected with the name Silvanus.

Sources

Sources for Silas

  • The Oxford Dictionary of English Christian Names, E. G. Withycombe (3rd edition)Supports: Latin etymology via Silvanus; connection with woodland imagery.
  • The Acts of the Apostles, King James Version (KJV 1769)Supports: biblical figure, missionary companion of Paul (Acts 16:25).
  • The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, David Hugh Farmer (5th edition)Supports: Saint Silas (Silvanus); commemoration among the Seventy Apostles.

Last reviewed July 19, 2026. See our methodology, or report an error on the corrections page.

Read next

Related names

PaulSilas accompanies Paul on the second missionary journey through Asia Minor, Macedonia, and Greece (Acts 15:40-18:5); imprisoned together at Philippi (Acts 16).BarnabasSilas replaces Barnabas as Paul's missionary partner after the disagreement over John Mark (Acts 15:36-40); the two pairs together cover the missionary journeys.TimothySilas and Timothy travel together with Paul on the second journey; both are named with Paul in the opening greetings of 1 and 2 Thessalonians as co-senders (Silvanus and Timotheus); the greetings do not by themselves establish co-authorship.TitusBoth are Paul's coworkers named in his letters; Silas in Thessalonica and Corinth, Titus in Crete and Dalmatia.