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