What does August mean?
August comes from the Latin augustus, “great, venerable.”
What does Silas mean?
Silas is generally linked to the Latin Silvanus, “of the forest” or “wood,” and appears in the New Testament as a companion of Paul.
August vs Silas
Which is more popular?
Silas is more popular than August today: about 4,639 US babies were given the name Silas in 2025, compared with 3,958 named August.
| August | Silas | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Great, venerable | Of the forest |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | AW-gust | SY-lus |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,958) | 2025 (4,639) |
| In 2025 | 3,958 | 4,639 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
August
Silas
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | August | Silas |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 20,323 | 24,464 |
| 2010s | 15,827 | 29,629 |
| 2000s | 3,859 | 7,308 |
| 1990s | 2,153 | 1,907 |
| 1980s | 1,153 | 1,175 |
| 1970s | 1,044 | 922 |
| 1960s | 1,234 | 753 |
| 1950s | 1,841 | 1,050 |
| 1940s | 2,434 | 1,276 |
| 1930s | 3,208 | 1,482 |
| 1920s | 5,277 | 2,031 |
| 1910s | 4,869 | 1,553 |
| 1900s | 1,245 | 509 |
| 1890s | 1,703 | 631 |
| 1880s | 2,012 | 775 |
Frequently asked questions
Is August or Silas more popular?
Silas is more popular than August today: about 4,639 US babies were given the name Silas in 2025, compared with 3,958 named August.
What is the difference between August and Silas?
August means Great, venerable (Latin origin), while Silas means Of the forest (Latin origin).
Which name is older, August or Silas?
In US records, August first appears in 1880 and Silas in 1880, so August has the longer recorded history.