Silas, once a folksy-sounding, rural New Testament name associated with George Eliot's Silas Marner, is definitely beginning to be reevaluated, a la similar flavored Caleb and Linus, and becoming a hot Nameberry fave.

Silas is also associated with the indelible albino monk in The Da Vinci Code, was the leading character in William D. Howell's novel The Rise and Fall of Silas Lapham, and is the name of Nancy Botwin's son in "Weeds."

Silas is based on Sylvanus, the Roman god of trees and was originally bestowed on people who lived in wooded areas or who worked with wood.

In 2009 alone, Silas shot up more than 50 places, then 36 more in 2011, indicating that it is a rising New Testament name.

St. Silas was a leading memeber of the early Christian community who accompained Paul on his second missionary journey.