Silva

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Silva

Pronounced SIL-vah /ˈsɪl.və/Medium

Meaning: Silva comes from the Latin silva, meaning 'forest' or 'woodland,' and is best known as the very common Portuguese and Italian surname da Silva; as a first name it also reads as a short form of Silvia or Sylvia.Medium

In 30 seconds: Silva means 'forest' from Latin and is a familiar Portuguese surname. As a girl's given name it stayed rare, peaking around 1969 (said SIL-vah).

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Origin MediumLatin, Portuguese

MeaningSilva comes from the Latin silva, meaning 'forest' or 'woodland,' and is best known as the very common Portuguese and Italian surname da Silva; as a first name it also reads as a short form of Silvia or Sylvia.

U.S. rank (2023)#14918 ↗ Rising

2023 U.S. births6 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1969

Total births (all-time)≈ 901

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

Silva traces to the Latin silva, 'forest,' the same root behind Silvia and Sylvia. It is far better known as the Portuguese and Italian surname da Silva, and its use as an American girl's first name is scarce.

Silva was never common in the United States, given to only about twenty girls a year at its faint peak around 1969, and it faded thereafter. It reads today as a heritage or surname-style pick rather than a mainstream name.

Did you know? Silva is one of the most common surnames in the Portuguese-speaking world, from the Latin word for woodland; carried to a first name it gives a girl a crisp, nature-rooted two-beat name.

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Silva — Latin silva 'forest'; Portuguese/Italian surname da Silva

Variations

SilviaSylviaSilvana

Nicknames

SilSilvie

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Silva…

Silvia— the fuller Latin forest name

Sylvia— a like woodland name

Silvana— shares the forest root

Alva— a like short vintage girl's name

Explore names like Silva

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Silva mean?

It comes from the Latin silva, meaning 'forest' or 'woodland,' and is also a common Portuguese surname.

How do you pronounce Silva?

It is said SIL-vah /ˈsɪl.və/, two syllables with the stress on the first.

Is Silva a boy or girl name?

Silva is used here as a girl's name.

How popular is Silva?

It has always been rare in the United States as a first name, given to only about twenty girls a year at its peak in the late nineteen-sixties.