Cylas
Derived from the Greek word "kyon" meaning dog or hound.
Name Census estimates that about 961 living Americans carry the first name Cylas. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Cylas today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Cylas births was 2015 (77 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Cylas. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
961
~ 1 in 356,664 Americans
Peak year
2015
77 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,748
Tracked since 1996
Popularity
Cylas: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Cylas from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 574 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Cylas remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Cylas by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Cylas during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Cylas' live
The SSA's state-level files cover 9 states and territories. Ohio, Texas, California recorded the most babies named Cylas, while Wisconsin, Washington, Pennsylvania recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 10 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Cylas
The name Cylas has its origins in ancient Greece, stemming from the Greek word "kylos," which means "crooked" or "bent." It is believed to have been derived from the name "Kylos," which was a common name among the Greeks during the Classical period, roughly between the 5th and 4th centuries BC.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cylas can be found in the works of the ancient Greek historian Polybius, who lived from around 200 BC to 118 BC. In his writings, Polybius mentions a Cylas who was a Spartan commander during the Cleomenean War, which took place in the 3rd century BC.
Another notable figure named Cylas was a Roman senator and consul who lived during the 1st century BC. He is mentioned in the writings of the Roman historian Livy, who refers to him as "Cylas Aruncius."
In the realm of literature, the name Cylas appears in the works of the ancient Greek poet Theocritus, who lived in the 3rd century BC. In one of his idylls, Theocritus introduces a character named Cylas, who is a shepherd.
Moving forward in history, a prominent individual named Cylas was a Byzantine general who served under the Emperor Heraclius in the 7th century AD. He played a significant role in the Byzantine-Sassanid Wars, leading the Byzantine forces in several decisive battles against the Persians.
Another notable bearer of the name Cylas was a French nobleman who lived during the 12th century. He was known as Cylas de Montfort and was a participant in the Third Crusade, fighting alongside King Richard the Lionheart.
While the name Cylas has its roots in ancient Greece, it has been used across various cultures and time periods, though its usage has been relatively uncommon throughout history. The name's meaning, derived from the word "kylos," suggests a connection to the idea of crookedness or curvature, which may have held symbolic significance in ancient Greek culture.
People
Cylas + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Cylas as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with C
Other first names starting with C with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Cylas: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Cylas?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 961 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Cylas going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 356,664 US residents.
Is Cylas a common name?
We classify Cylas as "Very Rare". It ranks above 89.8% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 969 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Cylas most popular?
The single biggest year for Cylas was 2015, when 77 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Cylas is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Cylas a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Cylas in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.