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