Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1969

Silva

Meaning Silva is a Latvian and Armenian feminine given name Gender Girl · 1% boys Rank 2025 Below top lists

Silva is a Latvian and Armenian feminine given name.

Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Silva
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1969
19 babies
All-time total
911
#8,063 all-time among girls
First recorded
1892
in Social Security records

Silva popularity over time

911 babies have been named Silva since 1892, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.010.020.020.0318801900192019401960198020002020GirlsBoys
GirlsBoys

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Boys Total Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – – – –
1890s 5 – 5 1 – #1,638
1900s 24 – 24 2 +380% #1,765
1910s 70 – 70 7 +192% #2,327
1920s 91 – 91 9 +30% #2,712
1930s 74 – 74 7 -19% #2,436
1940s 29 – 29 3 -61% #3,180
1950s 69 – 69 7 +138% #3,659
1960s 146 – 146 15 +112% #3,057
1970s 125 – 125 13 -14% #4,098
1980s 106 – 106 11 -15% #4,658
1990s 92 – 92 9 -13% #5,239
2000s 35 – 35 4 -62% #10,136
2010s 29 – 29 3 -17% #15,665
2020s (to 2025) 6 10 16 3 -8% #14,935

The story of Silva

Silva is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1892, 911 American babies have been named Silva. Its peak came in 1969, when 19 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Silva stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Silva?

The median living Silva is about 48 years old; half are between 35 and 61. An estimated 600 people named Silva are alive in the United States today.

median 48 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Silva year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank Boys Boys rank
2025 – – – –
2024 – – – –
2023 6 #14,935 5 #13,888
2022 – – 5 #14,040
2021 – – – –
2020 – – – –
2019 – – – –
2018 – – – –
2017 6 #15,665 – –
2016 6 #15,978 – –
2015 6 #16,164 – –
2014 – – – –
2013 6 #16,276 – –
2012 5 #19,170 – –
2011 – – – –
2010 – – – –
2009 – – – –
2008 – – – –
2007 – – – –
2006 6 #16,831 – –
2005 6 #16,161 – –
2004 – – – –
2003 – – – –
2002 10 #10,136 – –
2001 5 #17,579 – –
2000 8 #11,643 – –
1995 11 #8,012 – –
1990 16 #5,801 – –
1985 11 #6,406 – –
1980 8 #8,062 – –
1975 13 #4,808 – –
1970 8 #6,279 – –
1965 9 #4,782 – –
1960 11 #4,139 – –
1955 9 #4,338 – –
1950 6 #5,226 – –
1945 – – – –
1940 9 #3,180 – –
1935 6 #4,148 – –
1930 12 #2,671 – –
1925 10 #3,334 – –
1920 13 #2,712 – –
1915 9 #3,104 – –
1910 – – – –
1905 6 #1,898 – –
1900 – – – –
1895 – – – –
1890 – – – –
1885 – – – –
1880 – – – –

Famous people named Silva

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Silva Kaputikyan Silva Kaputikyan Armenian poet, writer and political activist 1919–2006 · Contemporary
  2. 2 Silva Batuta Silva Batuta Brazilian footballer (1940–2020) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Silva, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Silva?

The median living Silva is about 48 years old. Half of all living Silvas are between 35 and 61 years old.

How many people named Silva are alive today?

An estimated 600 people named Silva are alive in the United States, based on 911 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Silva mean?

Silva is a Latvian and Armenian feminine given name.

How popular is the name Silva in 2025?

Silva did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Silva?

911 babies have been named Silva in the United States since 1892, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Silva most popular?

Silva peaked in 1969, when 19 newborns received the name.

Is Silva a boy or girl name?

Silva is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 99% of babies with the name.

Is the name Silva rising or falling?

Silva is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Silva?

Well-known people named Silva include Silva Kaputikyan (writer), Silva Batuta (soccer player).

Names like Silva

Names that sound and feel close to Silva: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Silva with similar names → More names starting with S →