How to say it
SY · las
/ˈsaɪ.ləs/
Masculine
Sylas
Of the forest
What it means
A respelling of Silas, from the Latin Silvanus, 'of the forest, woods.'
Sylas is a modern Y-spelling of Silas, which comes from the Latin Silvanus, the woodland god, so 'of the forest.' Silas is the established biblical form, the companion of the Apostle Paul on his travels; the Sy- spelling is a contemporary twist that rides the same woodsy, vintage charm. It pairs with Atlas and Elias. Sy is the short.
Popularity over time
peaked at #440 in 2025, currently #440 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Sylas is a modern respelling of Silas, 'of the forest.'
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Silas companion of the Apostle Paul, the name's biblical bearer
Spelling variants
- Silas
- Sylus
- Cylas
Names with the same feeling
See Sylas from another angle
By style