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Sila
How to Pronounce Sila
Pronounced SHEE-lah /ˈʃi.lɑ/Medium
Meaning: From Turkish Şıla/Sıla — 'a return home; rain after drought; the beloved homeland'; also Sanskrit shila, 'virtue, good conduct'; routes layeredLow
Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Sila comes from the Turkish Sıla/Şıla — 'a return to one's homeland; a longed-for reunion with home; the welcome first rain on parched soil'. It also reads as the Sanskrit shila, 'virtue, good conduct, character' (routes layered, which we note). A soft, evocative name across Turkey and beyond (the Ş is said 'sh', so 'SHEE-lah'; the plain S spelling may be said 'SEE-lah').
In the U.S. it appears in Turkish families. Rare, a-return-home at the root, and evocative.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Sila mean?
Sila is Turkish for 'a return home; a longed-for reunion; rain after drought', and Sanskrit for 'virtue'; the routes are layered.
How do you pronounce Sila?
It's said SHEE-lah /ˈʃi.lɑ/ — two syllables, stress on the first (the Turkish Ş is 'sh').
Is Sila a boy or girl name?
Sila is a girl's name.
How popular is Sila?
Sila is a rare name in the U.S.