Shilo
Shilo was the 1343rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 142 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 5,277 places. More babies were named Shilo in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Shiloh) Origin uncertain · Hebrew
- Rank in 2025
- #1,343 boys, up 3,058 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 142boys
- Girls and boys
- 22% girls, 78% boys2021–2025
- Peak year
- 2025142 babies
- Total since 1880
- 3,123babies recorded
What does the name Shilo mean?
Shilo is a spelling of Shiloh, pronounced the same way, so it shares Shiloh's meaning and origin.
Shiloh is a biblical place, the town where the Tabernacle stood (Joshua 18:1). The word also occurs in an obscure line of Jacob's blessing (Genesis 49:10), which has been read as a messianic title; modern translations such as the JPS render the line without a name. The meaning of the place name is not known. It is used today for both boys and girls.
שִׁילֹה (Biblical Hebrew, “Shiloh, a town in ancient Israel”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. Place name of unknown meaning; 'tranquil' or 'peaceful' are popular glosses without firm support.
Other explanations you may read: means 'tranquil' or 'his gift'.
See also: Hebrew names, names from places.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Shiloh', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Hebrew Bible / Tanakh, Joshua 18.1, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Hebrew Bible / Tanakh, Genesis 49.10, JPS translation with notes (via Sefaria), Sefaria
- Dictionary.com Unabridged (based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary), with Collins English Dictionary, s.v. 'Shiloh', Dictionary.com / Random House / HarperCollins
Shilo popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Rank (boys) | Babies (girls) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #4,652 | #1,343 | 30 | 142 |
| 2020 | #6,055 | #4,401 | 20 | 23 |
| 2010 | #3,613 | #4,654 | 44 | 21 |
| 2000 | #6,760 | #4,536 | 16 | 17 |
| 1990 | #3,702 | #5,317 | 29 | 10 |
| 1980 | #1,640 | #2,521 | 71 | 20 |
| 1970 | #2,152 | #3,486 | 38 | 9 |
| 1960 | — | — | — | — |
| 1950 | — | — | — | — |
| 1940 | — | — | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
How popular is Shilo, counting every spelling?
Shilo is a spelling of Shiloh, a name family that ranked #261 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #1,343 for Shilo on its own. Together these spellings went to 1,411 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shiloh | 1,220 | #278 | 4,194 |
| Shilo | 142 | #1,343 | 404 |
| Shylo | 27 | #4,026 | 97 |
| Shyloh | 22 | #4,681 | 97 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Shilo?
142 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Shilo (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Shilo born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 59 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Shilo.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Shilo?
About 1,200 people born in the US named Shilo are alive today, with a median age of 19; half are between 3 and 40. That makes Shilo mostly worn by children and young adults. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Shilo by state
How common Shilo was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Florida (1.7×). In 40 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Shilo: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Shilo, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Shilo
What does Shilo mean?
The origin of Shiloh is uncertain: Place name of unknown meaning; 'tranquil' or 'peaceful' are popular glosses without firm support.
How popular is the name Shilo?
Shilo was the 1343rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 142 babies. That is its highest rank since records began in 1880. Over the last ten years it has moved up 5,277 places. More babies were named Shilo in the 1970s than in any other decade.
Is Shilo a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, 22% girls, 78% boys given the name Shilo in the US.
Where is Shilo most popular?
In 2021–2025, Shilo was most common in Florida (0.08 per 1,000 boys), followed by North Carolina and Maryland.