So, I’ve felt lately that [name]Silas[/name] is getting pretty popular and I finally looked it up on the SSA website. It has went from #602 in 2000 to #161 in 2012! I had no idea it was that dramatic! Now, since it is my current #1 boys name, I am freaking out. Exactly how popular is a name at #161? [name]Do[/name] you foresee it continuing to skyrocket, or start to taper off soon? I thought maybe it was because of Weeds, and now that the show is over for good maybe it will start to slip again?
sigh Why do I always love names that are skyrocketing in popularity? It’s so frustrating.
I think being #161, in itself, is not an issue. That’s not crazy popular or anything. Popular enough where you might meet one or two here and there, but not that common. However, saying that, it does seem possible that [name]Silas[/name] will continue to rise more, so you’d have to determine how big of a deal that is for you (who knows though, really— I’d guess it’ll end up somewhere in the top 100, but I don’t really have any reason for this other a guess based on it’s current trajectory). But [name]Silas[/name] isn’t some sort of modern ‘trendy’ name or anything, so I don’t think you have to worry about that. It’s a name that’s been around for a very very long time (sometimes more commonly, sometimes less commonly, but always around). [name]One[/name] of my favorite names is [name]Jasper[/name] (and the only of my top 10 that is even in the top 500 at all), and for a minute I had a similar worry to what your talking about with [name]Silas[/name] ([name]Jasper[/name] has also shot up pretty rapidly), but when I reflected on it more I realized that it really didn’t need to be an issue, so I detached from that worry and am glad I did.
I wouldn’t worry! The move to #161, in my opinion, just means that [name]Silas[/name] will now be more ‘known’ - it won’t cause confusion or weird looks, which is a good thing to me! It’s still out of the top 100 so it won’t be everywhere. There might be another one or two in your suburb - you can’t really know! And if it does eventually push into the top 100 your son will be ahead of the curve!
I also like it a lot but I haven’t convinced hubby. It’d be #2-3 on the list anyway.
As for Popularity… there were 2,460 little Silas’ born in 2012. If you were to stretch that out evenly over all 50 states, that’s less than 50 Silas’ per state for the year. (Yes, I realize some states are huge and some states are tiny.)
Every year that passes adds more of an age difference so there might not be another one in your child’s whole school. Even if there is, there most likely won’t be 2-3 in his class. And even if it gets more popular in the next few years, I don’t see it jumping into the top 100 too soon, if at all. It will probably linger between 100-200 for a while.
And when you do the math, it’s not so bad. Yes, you may meet one or two others, but they probably won’t be the same age or live near enough to change your life.
It is hard to predict what a name will do. Names often jump in popularity because of a character on TV or in the movies. I think this explains part of the jump in popularity of [name]Silas[/name]. The question is - will it head back down or up? I would not have predicted [name]Mason[/name] would be as popular as it has become?
If you love [name]Silas[/name] use it. Whatever happens in the future, it is not overly popular right now.
I would check where it ranks in your state. And look at the actual numbers of babies born with that name. I think it puts things into perspective regarding how popular the name really is.
I just gave birth 3 days ago and named my baby [name]Silas[/name]! I am actually surprised with the number of people who are unfamiliar with the name. My pediatrician told me he is the first [name]Silas[/name] in the pediatric group and many ask the meaning/origin/spelling of the name. I live in a large LA suburb. Since I can’t control the popularity of a name, I place little value on that aspect. I believe the meaning and likability are more important than popularity.
Popularity is so regional and at 161, you may not ever run into another. When we named our son [name]Joshua[/name] in the early 80’s, it was very popular but he’s only known one other and that one is about 10 years older than he is. On the other hand, our daughter [name]Johanna[/name]'s name was nowhere near the top 100 and she knows 2 others! You just can never tell.
[name]Silas[/name] has that soft/old fashioned feeling like [name]Lucas[/name] or [name]Elijah[/name] or…[name]Jacob[/name]. I see it as really usable so that means it has popularity potential. And [name]Si[/name] has a nice ring to it.
I think if you would be really crushed if you met another little [name]Silas[/name] that you should consider something way more distinct…but if you love love love the name it shouldn’t matter to you that much cause it’s not like it’s in the top 10.
But to the pp who mentioned [name]Emma[/name]…they must all be in my town cause I have met so many Emmas since moving here!!
I wrote this on a forum about [name]Imogen[/name] and I feel it applies well here.
‘[name]Imogen[/name] is one of my favorites. To me, personally the popularity of any name isn’t a issue and I only judge it on the people I know or have met. Really how many Imogens’ are you going to meet in your life? You meet way less than 100,000 people in your lifetime and there is seven billion people on this earth most with different names so that means that there must be around about three to four billion names maybe more. So really you will only meet around three maybe four Imogens’ in your whole life, probably less. I honestly think that too many people make the popularity think a huge issue but it’s not. All that should matter is that you and your partner like the name, that’s all!’
For some reason, the SSA website only gives me the top 100 in my state. It’s definitely not in the top 100, so that’s good. I do love the name, but my husband just likes it. I guess it would be more imminent if I were to get pregnant with a boy, but it still bothers me now. I heard a Mom yelling to her son [name]Silas[/name] the other day at Target, and it kind of irked me.
Yeah, they only give the top 100, but if you look at the actual numbers of babies born by the time you get to 100, the numbers drop off pretty dramatically, at least they do in my state, a very little [name]New[/name] [name]England[/name] state. [name]Silas[/name] is quite biblical as well. Maybe you just happened to run into a religious family?
Popularity is a big issue for me. And the name [name]Silas[/name] is number 98 in my state! Search beyond top 1000 names ssa on google and download the file and you can see past the top 100 for your state and beside it it will say how many were born in your state with the name. We are on the fence about our choice of miles because its about it the top 100 we also had [name]Silas[/name] on our list but felt like it was rising at an alarming rate and dropped It
I’m in [name]North[/name] [name]Carolina[/name]. I also live in a pretty hipster town with quite an urban vibe, so it might possibly be more popular here than the rest of the state. As an example, I know 2 families with daughters named [name]Wylie[/name]. Outside of this city, that would be unheard of.
I see now it says you’re from [name]North[/name] [name]Carolina[/name]. There were 105 babies named [name]Silas[/name] in 2012 and 16 with the spelling [name]Sylas[/name]
It is so hard to find a name you love that works with your last name, sibling’s names, etc. that popularity doesn’t mean as much to me anymore. While it is still a factor, it has moved way down the priority list. We are considering [name]Cy[/name] for our unborn son and most people I mention it to immediately refer to the reality show Duck Dynasty. I have never seen it, but apparently [name]Silas[/name] nn [name]Si[/name] is the lead character. Depending on where you live this show may not be popular at all, but where I am in the Midwest it is very popular. I worry more about the association most will have with this character than the popularity rising. Good luck with your choice!
I also live in a pretty hipster town with quite an urban vibe, so it might possibly be more popular here than the rest of the state. As an example, I know 2 families with daughters named [name]Wylie[/name]. Outside of this city, that would be unheard of.