Fun Facts About the Name Silo
- 50 babies named Silo: U.S. records list 50 babies given the name Silo from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Silo Mean?
Silo is chiefly a masculine given name. Its best-known background is biblical Hebrew. In Dutch and Spanish Bibles, Silo is the traditional form of the Hebrew name Shiloh (שִׁלֹה), a place name and prophetic term; the meaning of Shiloh is uncertain. Suggested explanations connect it with a Hebrew root meaning "to be at ease" or "to be quiet," which gives the traditional gloss "peaceful" or "tranquil"; others derive it from elements meaning "gift to him" or "he whose it is." No single etymology is universally accepted. In Christian interpretation, the Shiloh of Genesis 49:10 has been read as a messianic title, a symbolic association rather than a literal translation. A separate ancient Roman cognomen Silo is also attested, but its origin is unclear and it is not the source of the biblical name. The English common noun silo, for a grain storage structure, comes from Spanish and is unrelated to the personal name.
Silo Name History & Origins
Shiloh is an ancient Hebrew place name: a town in the hill country of Ephraim where the Israelites set up the tabernacle after the conquest of Canaan (Joshua 18:1). It was an important religious center until the Philistines captured the ark (1 Samuel 4). The name also appears in Jacob's blessing of Judah in Genesis 49:10, "until Shiloh comes," a verse that Jewish and Christian readers have explained in different ways. In Christian tradition it was often treated as a messianic prophecy. The form Silo appears in early English translations, including Tyndale's and Coverdale's Bibles, which read "until Silo come" in Genesis 49:10; the King James Version later used Shiloh. Silo is also the traditional form in Dutch and Spanish Bibles, including the Dutch Statenvertaling and the Spanish Reina-Valera. From those Bible traditions, Silo has been used as a male given name in Dutch- and Spanish-speaking regions, and in English it may be a spelling variant or an independent modern use.
The Roman cognomen Silo is distinct: it was borne by several ancient Romans, notably Quintus Poppaedius Silo, a Marsic leader in the Social War of 91 - 88 BC. Its etymology is uncertain, and it does not appear to be the source of the biblical given name. In medieval Spain, the name was borne by Silo, king of Asturias (reigned 774 - 783); his name's relationship to the biblical Silo is not clear. The English word silo, for a storage pit or tower, entered the language through Spanish from Latin and Greek and is also unrelated.
How Popular is the Name Silo?
Silo 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 2023. Its best rank was #6,169 in 2023.
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 | #8,155 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #9,711 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2023 | #6,169 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2022 | #7,685 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2021 | #11,919 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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 Silo 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 are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Silo's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Silo's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.