Fun Facts About the Name Shilo
- More than 3 thousand babies named Shilo: U.S. records list 3,122 babies given the name Shilo from 1880 through 2025. Of these, 1,270 boys received the name Shilo.
What Does the Name Shilo Mean?
Shilo is a variant spelling of Shiloh, a name of Hebrew origin commonly understood to mean "peaceful" or "place of rest." The Hebrew form is Shiloh (שִׁילֹה), a word whose exact derivation is uncertain. It is often explained as coming from a root meaning "to be at rest" or "to be tranquil." Another traditional explanation connects it with Hebrew shai ("gift") and lo ("to him"), yielding "his gift" or "gift to him." In Genesis 49:10, the phrase "until Shiloh comes" has been read by some Christian interpreters as a reference to the Messiah and paraphrased as "the one to whom it belongs." That messianic reading is an interpretation of the biblical phrase, not a separate etymology. The spelling Shilo drops the final h of the more common transliteration Shiloh; both forms are used as given names.
Shilo Name History & Origins
The earliest context for the name is the Hebrew Bible. Shiloh is a town in the hill country of Ephraim, in the central highlands of ancient Israel. According to the book of Joshua, the Israelites assembled at Shiloh after the conquest of Canaan, and the Tabernacle was set up there (Joshua 18:1). Shiloh became the main religious center of the tribes during the period of the Judges. The First Book of Samuel places the sanctuary at Shiloh, where Hannah prayed for a son and where the boy Samuel served under the priest Eli (1 Samuel 1 - 3). The town was later destroyed, probably in the 11th century BCE, and the site was abandoned. Archaeologists identify ancient Shiloh with Khirbet Seilun, where excavations have found Iron Age remains and evidence of destruction.
A separate biblical occurrence of the word is in Genesis 49:10, in Jacob's blessing of Judah: "The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come." The Hebrew phrase is difficult, and translations differ. Some read it as "until he comes to Shiloh," referring to the town. Others read "until Shiloh comes" and understand Shiloh as a title for the Messiah. The King James Version capitalizes the word as a name, and Christian tradition has often applied the verse to Jesus. This messianic use is an interpretive tradition, not evidence that Shiloh was an ordinary personal name in biblical times.
The spelling Shilo is a later variant of Shiloh. In modern Hebrew, Shilo is used as a male given name. The biblical place name Shiloh is also preserved in the Israeli settlement of Shiloh in the West Bank, near the ancient site. In English-speaking countries, Shiloh and Shilo are used as given names for both sexes. The variant spelling Shilo does not have a separate origin from Shiloh; it reflects a different transliteration of the same Hebrew name.
How Popular is the Name Shilo?
Shilo has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2025. Its best rank was #1,343 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,652 | 30 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #5,114 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 2023 | #6,628 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2022 | #5,775 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #6,646 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #6,051 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #8,536 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #5,127 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 2017 | #8,231 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #6,372 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #6,427 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2014 | #6,670 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2013 | #6,991 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #5,232 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2011 | #4,553 | 32 | 0.0018% |
| 2010 | #3,612 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 2009 | #5,210 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #4,635 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2007 | #4,553 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2006 | #5,684 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2005 | #5,761 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2004 | #9,187 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2003 | #6,846 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2002 | #6,096 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2001 | #6,275 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2000 | #6,760 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #4,063 | 29 | 0.0016% |
| 1998 | #4,129 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1997 | #3,880 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1996 | #4,034 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1995 | #4,492 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1994 | #3,433 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1993 | #3,343 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1992 | #3,402 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1991 | #3,928 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1990 | #3,702 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1989 | #3,659 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 1988 | #3,468 | 28 | 0.0016% |
| 1987 | #3,509 | 26 | 0.0015% |
| 1986 | #2,896 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 1985 | #3,319 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1984 | #2,775 | 33 | 0.0020% |
| 1983 | #2,233 | 44 | 0.0026% |
| 1982 | #2,215 | 46 | 0.0027% |
| 1981 | #2,111 | 49 | 0.0029% |
| 1980 | #1,640 | 71 | 0.0043% |
| 1979 | #1,567 | 74 | 0.0046% |
| 1978 | #1,345 | 89 | 0.0058% |
| 1977 | #1,634 | 65 | 0.0042% |
| 1976 | #1,634 | 61 | 0.0042% |
| 1975 | #1,474 | 70 | 0.0048% |
| 1974 | #1,460 | 69 | 0.0047% |
| 1973 | #1,706 | 53 | 0.0036% |
| 1972 | #2,213 | 35 | 0.0023% |
| 1971 | #2,417 | 32 | 0.0019% |
| 1970 | #2,152 | 38 | 0.0022% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,343 | 142 | 0.0083% |
| 2024 | #1,669 | 101 | 0.0059% |
| 2023 | #1,771 | 92 | 0.0054% |
| 2022 | #2,992 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 2021 | #3,983 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2020 | #4,398 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2019 | #5,756 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2018 | #5,738 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2017 | #6,026 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2016 | #5,755 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2015 | #6,618 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #4,838 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2013 | #9,522 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2012 | #9,569 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2011 | #6,938 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #4,654 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2009 | #5,072 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #4,869 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2007 | #6,210 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2006 | #7,906 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2005 | #8,964 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #8,796 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2003 | #5,007 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #10,465 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #5,958 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #4,535 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #5,272 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1998 | #7,440 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #3,332 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1996 | #3,991 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1995 | #2,752 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 1994 | #3,093 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 1993 | #3,986 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #3,893 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1991 | #3,094 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1990 | #5,317 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1989 | #3,595 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #3,677 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #2,819 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1986 | #3,109 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #3,365 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1984 | #3,654 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1983 | #3,389 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #2,691 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1981 | #2,404 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1980 | #2,521 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1979 | #1,528 | 39 | 0.0023% |
| 1978 | #2,120 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 1977 | #2,343 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 1976 | #1,817 | 28 | 0.0018% |
| 1975 | #1,750 | 29 | 0.0019% |
| 1974 | #1,613 | 31 | 0.0020% |
| 1973 | #1,922 | 23 | 0.0015% |
| 1972 | #2,146 | 19 | 0.0012% |
| 1971 | #3,118 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #3,486 | 9 | 0.0005% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Shilo Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are intuitive and might be interested in the arts, drama or science.
You desire to inspire and lead, to control other's affairs. You are giving, courageous and bold, action oriented,energetic and strong willed. You want to make a difference in the world, and this attitude often attracts you to cultural interests, politics, social issues, and the cultivation of your creative talents.
✦ Shilo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Shilo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.