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 Victor mean?
The Latin victor, “conqueror” or “winner.”
Silas vs Victor
Which is more popular?
Silas is more popular than Victor today: about 4,639 US babies were given the name Silas in 2025, compared with 1,664 named Victor.
| Silas | Victor | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Of the forest | Conqueror |
| Origin | Latin | Latin |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | SY-lus | VIK-ter |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 2025 (4,639) | 1990 (4,445) |
| In 2025 | 4,639 | 1,664 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Silas
Victor
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Silas | Victor |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 24,464 | 10,542 |
| 2010s | 29,629 | 26,144 |
| 2000s | 7,308 | 40,686 |
| 1990s | 1,907 | 41,072 |
| 1980s | 1,175 | 32,286 |
| 1970s | 922 | 26,732 |
| 1960s | 753 | 36,821 |
| 1950s | 1,050 | 33,887 |
| 1940s | 1,276 | 22,518 |
| 1930s | 1,482 | 15,570 |
| 1920s | 2,031 | 21,498 |
| 1910s | 1,553 | 17,157 |
| 1900s | 509 | 2,447 |
| 1890s | 631 | 1,811 |
| 1880s | 775 | 1,242 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Silas or Victor more popular?
Silas is more popular than Victor today: about 4,639 US babies were given the name Silas in 2025, compared with 1,664 named Victor.
What is the difference between Silas and Victor?
Silas means Of the forest (Latin origin), while Victor means Conqueror (Latin origin).
Which name is older, Silas or Victor?
In US records, Silas first appears in 1880 and Victor in 1880, so Silas has the longer recorded history.