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Silver
Pronounced SIL-vər /ˈsɪl.vər/High
Meaning: The precious metal and its gleaming color; an English word name from Old English seolforHigh
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
Silver is the English word, from Old English seolfor, a term so ancient its ultimate source predates the Indo-European languages around it. As a personal name it has flickered through history — a medieval byname, the Lone Ranger's horse, a Treasure Island pirate — before the twenty-first-century word-name wave gave it new life for daughters.
It also nods to Sylvia and Silvia — 'of the forest' — for parents who want a familiar anchor. American use remains very rare, with a moonlit, slightly mythic glamour.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Silver mean?
Silver is the English word for the precious metal, from Old English seolfor, used as a gleaming word name.
How do you pronounce Silver?
It's said SIL-vər /ˈsɪl.vər/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Silver a boy or girl name?
Silver is used for both sexes; this page covers its use as a girl's name.
How popular is Silver?
Silver is a very rare word name in the U.S.