Silva Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: SIL-vah /ˈsɪlvə/
Origin: Latin; Portuguese
Meaning: Latin: 'forest' or 'wood'; Portuguese: 'from the forest'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Silva has its roots in Latin, deriving from the word "silva," which means "forest" or "woodland." This term was used in ancient Rome to refer to wooded areas and has connections to nature and the environment. The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of Latin on the vernacular languages of Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages when Latin was the language of scholarship and the Church.
As Latin evolved and influenced various languages, the name Silva emerged in different forms across regions, often associated with the natural world. Historically, the name Silva has been linked to various cultural and religious contexts.
In the Christian tradition, the name is sometimes associated with saints and figures who embody virtues related to nature and tranquility. For instance, the name may evoke the image of Saint Sylvester, a pope from the 4th century, whose name is derived from the same Latin root.
Additionally, the name has appeared in various literary works and historical texts, contributing to its resonance in different cultures. The use of Silva in medieval texts often highlighted themes of nature and spirituality, reinforcing its significance.
Culturally, the name Silva carries connotations of strength and resilience, akin to the enduring nature of forests. In many cultures, trees and woodlands symbolize life, growth, and protection, which may have contributed to the name's appeal over the centuries.
The name has also been used in various diminutive forms, such as Silvie or Sylvie, which reflect its softer, more intimate connotations. Overall, the name Silva encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic, historical, and cultural significance, rooted deeply in the natural world.
Famous people named Silva
In this section, you will find notable people named Silva. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Silva who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Silva who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Silva Gritti is a professional wrestler best known for his appearances in various wrestling promotions.
Silva Santos is a Brazilian footballer best known for playing with clubs in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.
Fictional characters named Silva
The following list of fictional characters named Silva is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Silva is a fictional character from the film Skyfall. He is a former MI6 agent turned antagonist who seeks revenge against the agency and its leadership.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Silva, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Silva. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Silva was first seen in the United States in 1892.
Silva has ranked as high as #4722 nationally, which occurred in 1969, and has been most popular in California, New York, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Silva has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Silva is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Silva was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Silva.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 11 | 5 | 6 |
| 2022 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2012 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 2000 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1996 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1994 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1993 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1992 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1991 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1990 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1989 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1988 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1987 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1986 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1985 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1984 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1983 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1982 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1980 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1979 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1978 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1977 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1976 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1975 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1974 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1973 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1972 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1971 | 15 | 0 | 15 |
| 1970 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1969 | 19 | 0 | 19 |
| 1968 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1967 | 18 | 0 | 18 |
| 1966 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1965 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1964 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| 1963 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1962 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| 1961 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1960 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1959 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1958 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1957 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1956 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1955 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1954 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1953 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1950 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1949 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1942 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1941 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1940 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1939 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1938 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1937 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1936 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1935 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1933 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1932 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1931 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1930 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1929 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1928 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1927 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1926 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1925 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1924 | 12 | 0 | 12 |
| 1923 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1922 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1921 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1920 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 1919 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1918 | 10 | 0 | 10 |
| 1917 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| 1916 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1915 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1914 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1913 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1912 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1911 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1908 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 1907 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1905 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1902 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| 1892 | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Top States for Silva (1995)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 6 |