The story behind Silas
From Latin Sīlās, from Ancient Greek Σίλας (Sílas), from Aramaic שְׁאִילָא (šəʾīlā), cognate of Hebrew שָׁאוּל (šāʾūl, “Saul”). Doublet of Saul.
Other language forms and explanations (1)
Portuguese entry
From Latin Silas.
Pronunciation
English; dialect unspecified: /ˈsaɪ.ləs/
Regional pronunciation variants
- Portuguese; Brazil: /ˈsi.lɐs/
- Portuguese; Rio-de-Janeiro: /ˈsi.lɐʃ/
- Portuguese; Portugal: /ˈsi.lɐʃ/
Popularity
Silas ranked #12991 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Silas
Cephas
Borrowed from Latin Cēphās, from Ancient Greek Κηφᾶς (Kēphâs), from Aramaic כֵּיפָא/Classical Syriac ܟܐܦܐ (kēp̄ā, “stone, rock”).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Jesus
From Middle English Jhesus, Iesus, from Latin Iēsūs, from Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs), from Biblical Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (yēšū́aʿ), a contracted form of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yəhōšúaʿ,…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Tamás
Borrowed from Latin Thomas, from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς (Thōmâs), from Aramaic תְּאוֹמָא (təʾōmā).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Thomas
Inherited from Middle English Thomas, from Latin Thōmās m (as in the Vulgate), from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m (Thōmâs), the Biblical Greek transcription of Aramaic תאומא or תאמא…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Tomás
Derived from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m (Thōmâs), from Aramaic תאומא (“twin”). Inherited from Old Galician-Portuguese Thomas, from Latin Thōmās m, from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς m…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Tòmas
From English Thomas, from Latin Thōmās, from Ancient Greek Θωμᾶς (Thōmâs), from Aramaic תאומא, תאמא (“twin”). Doublet of Tàmhas, the form inherited from Old Irish.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Silas
Bartłomiej
Learned borrowing from Latin Bartholomaeus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends J
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bertalan
From Ancient Greek Βαρθολομαῖος (Bartholomaîos), from Aramaic בר and תלמי.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Bethany
From Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”). This etymology is highly disputed; see Bethany.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Silas
Asa
Via Late Latin Asa from Koine Greek Ἀσά (Asá) from Biblical Hebrew אָסָא (ʾĀsāʾ), from Aramaic אָסְיָא (ʾāsyā, “physician, doctor, healer”), from Akkadian 𒀀𒍪 (A.ZU /asû/)…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends A
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bethan
Shortened form of Bethany, from Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Bethany
From Ancient Greek Βηθανία (Bēthanía), from Aramaic בית עניא (beth anya, “house of wretchedness”). This etymology is highly disputed; see Bethany.
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends Y
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length