Silver

Meaning of Silver

Silver takes its cue from the luminous metal whose Old English name, “seolfor,” ultimately links back to Proto-Germanic roots, while its Latin analogue argentum and the Spanish image of “plata” give the word an Iberian and pan-Latin resonance. As a given name, it has floated quietly on U.S. birth records for more than a century, registering about 40–55 babies a year and settling near rank 900—a sweet spot for parents who want uncommon yet recognizable. Unisex by tradition and by current use, Silver carries layered associations: the moon’s cool glow, second-place medals that still symbolize achievement, and literary echoes from Robert Louis Stevenson’s Long John Silver to Marvel’s Silver Surfer. In many Latin American cultures, silver is tied to celebration—think quinceañera jewelry and the gleam of religious milagros—which lends the name an understated festive air. Taken together, Silver offers a crisp, modern sound, cross-cultural familiarity, and a subtle nod to both heritage and shine.