Silva, da Silva, and de Silva are surnames of Portuguese or Galician origin which are widespread in the Portuguese-speaking countries including Brazil. The name is derived from

Latin Latin ( or ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic languages, Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally spoken by the Latins (Italic tribe), Latins in Latium (now known as Lazio), the lower Tiber area aroun ...

("forest" or "woodland"). It is the family name of the

House of Silva The House of Silva () is an ancient and influential aristocratic family of Spanish and Portuguese origin. History Juan de Mena's ''Memorias de algunos linages antiguos e nobles de Castilla'', a work of the first half of the 15th century of nob ...

. The name is widespread in Galician-speaking regions of Spain (mostly in Galicia) and even more so in regions of the former

Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire was a colonial empire that existed between 1415 and 1999. In conjunction with the Spanish Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa ...

in the Americas (being the most common surname in Brazil), in Africa and Asia, notably in India and Sri Lanka. It is also quite common in Spanish-speaking Latin America. Movement of people has led to the name being used in many places. Due to emigration from Portuguese-speaking countries, Silva (and the variants Da Silva and De Silva) is the fifth most common surname in the

French department In the administrative divisions of France, the department (, ) is one of the three levels of government under the national level (" territorial collectivities"), between the administrative regions and the communes. There are a total of 101 ...

Val-de-Marne Val-de-Marne (, "Vale of the Marne") is a department of France located in the Île-de-France region. Named after the river Marne, it is situated in the Grand Paris metropolis to the southeast of the City of Paris. In 2019, Val-de-Marne had a ...

, outside Paris, and it was the 19th most common family name given to newborns between 1966 and 1990 in France. Notable people and characters with these names include the following.

Arts

Actors

Adele Silva Adele Silva (born 19 November 1980) is an English actress. She played the role of Kelly Windsor in the ITV soap opera ''Emmerdale'' on and off from 1993 to 2011. In 1989, she had a minor role in the final classic series ''Doctor Who'' story ' ...

(born 1980), British actress *

António Silva (actor) António Maria da Silva (15 August 1886 – 3 March 1971) was a Portuguese actor. He appeared in more than 40 productions over his more than 50 years in acting. Early life António Silva was born to a humble family, one of many sons and daughte ...

(1886–1971), Portuguese actor *

Deepani Silva Deepani Silva () also known as Deepani de Silva () is a Sri Lankan popular veteran film and teledrama actress. She made it to the films after appearing in several street dramas and plays. On 28 May 2018, Deepani Silva was arrested and was rele ...

, Sri Lankan actress *

Douglas Silva Douglas Silva (born 27 September 1988)City of Men - The Movie: Cast
or simply DG is a Bra ...

(born 1988), Brazilian actor *

Fernando Ramos da Silva Fernando Ramos da Silva (29 November 1967 – 25 August 1987) was a Brazilian actor who became known for his role in Hector Babenco's 1981 film '' Pixote: A Lei do Mais Fraco'', a documentary-style account of the street children of Brazil. Da Si ...

(1967–1987), Brazilian actor * Frank Silva (1950–1995), American actor and set dresser *

Freddie Silva Haupe Liyanage Athukorala Morris Joseph Ranabahu, (born 18 May 1938 – died 29 October 2001: ), popularly as Freddie Silva, was a Sri Lankan film actor, and playback singer, who appeared from 1963 until 2001. Freddie was known for being one of t ...

(1938–2001), Sri Lankan actor, comedian and playback singer *

Gertrudes Rita da Silva Gertrudes Rita da Silva (18251888), often known just as Gertrudes, was a 19th-century Portuguese actress, who was particularly known for her comic performances. Early life Gertrudes Rita de Azevedo was born on 31 January 1825, in the parish of S ...

(1825–1888), Portuguese actor *

Henry Silva Henry Silva (September 23, 1926 – September 14, 2022) was an American actor, with a film and television career which spanned fifty years. A prolific character actor in over 140 productions, he was known for his "dark, sepulchral" looks and ...

(1926–2022), American actor * Howard da Silva (1909–1986), American actor and director * Sadiris Master (died 1958), Sri Lankan Sinhalese actor, musician * Hilarion "Larry" Silva (1937–2004), Filipino actor, comedian and politician *

Leena de Silva Liyanage Don Leena Piyasili de Silva (; 30 October 1936 – 1 December 2023), popularly referred to as Leena de Silva (), was a Sri Lankan actress who worked in Sri Lankan cinema, theatre and television. One of the earliest pillars of Sri Lanka ...

(born 1936), Sri Lankan Sinhala film, television, and theater actress *

Leslie Silva Leslie Silva (born April 21) is an American actress who has had long running television roles in ''Odyssey 5'', '' Providence'', and ''Shades of Blue''. Early life and education Silva graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BFA in ...

(born 1968), American actress *

Nicole da Silva Nicole da Silva is an Australian stage, film and television actress, best known for her roles as Stella Dagostino in the series '' Rush'' (2008–2011), and as Franky Doyle in the show ''Wentworth'' (2013–2018, 2019). She has made appearance ...

(born 1981), Australian actress *

Palitha Silva Garanduwa Baarage Palitha Silva (born August 30, 1967, as :si:පාලිත සිල්වා, පාලිත සිල්වා) inhala is a Sri Lankan actor, dramatist, producer, director, scriptwriter, and author. He started his caree ...

(born 1967), Sri Lankan actor *Paulo Rogério da Silva (born 1970), Brazilian actor also known as

Gero Camilo Gero Camilo (born Paulo Rogério da Silva on December 18, 1970) is a Brazilian actor, dramatist, singer-songwriter and poet. A descendant of Indigenous, African, Portuguese, and Dutch people, he was born in Fortaleza, Ceará from parents of Ac ...

* Rafael L. Silva (born 1994), Brazilian-American actor *

Roy de Silva Chathurartha Devadithya Gardiyawasam Lindamulage Roy Aloysius Felix de Silva, popularly known as Roy de Silva (රෝයි ද සිල්වා; 30 August 1937 – 30 June 2018), was a Sri Lankan actor and film director in Sri Lankan cinema. ...

(1937–2018), Sri Lankan Sinhalese actor and film director *

Sanjit De Silva Sanjit De Silva (born 31 October 1976) is a Sri Lankan actor and director who is known for his roles in ''The Company Men'' and '' American Desi''. Early life De Silva was born in Colombo and graduated from New York University's Tisch School o ...

(born 1976), Sri Lankan American actor and director *

Simone Silva Martha Simone de Bouillard (15 August 1928 – 30 November 1957), better known as Simone Silva, was an Egyptian and French film actress who appeared in a handful of British B-movies during the 1950s. Silva, who was once quoted as saying she ...

(1928–1957), Egyptian-born French film actress, also briefly in British films

Musicians

* Da Silva (born 1976), French singer, songwriter of Portuguese origin *

Alan Silva Alan Lee da Silva (born 22 January 1939, in Bermuda) is an American free jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known as a double bassist. He has recorded on keyboards, violin, cello and trumpet among other instruments. Biography Silva was born a ...

(born 1939), American free jazz double bassist *

Amancio D'Silva Amancio D'Silva (19 March 1936 – 17 July 1996) was an Indian jazz guitarist and composer, known for his own recordings and his collaborations with other musicians in Britain, notably Joe Harriott and Stan Tracey. Life He was born in Bombay (n ...

(1936–1996), Indian jazz guitarist and composer * Andrew Conrad De Silva, Sri Lankan Australian R&B and rock vocalist and instrumentalist *

Dawn Silva Dawn Silva is an American funk vocalist. Silva started her career as a background vocalist for Sly and the Family Stone. She joined Parliament-Funkadelic in 1977. She was the only original Brides of Funkenstein member to continue through the Br ...

, American funk vocalist * Deepal Silva (1967–2017), Sri Lankan Sinhalese playback singer and actor * Desmond de Silva (1944–2022), Sri Lankan vocalist * Francisco Manuel da Silva (1795–1865), Brazilian composer and music professor *

(1926–2022), Cape Verdean band leader/singer * Humberto Rodríguez Silva (1908–1952), Cuban composer and judge *

Horace Silver Horace Ward Martin Tavares Silver (September 2, 1928 – June 18, 2014) was an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, particularly in the hard bop style that he helped pioneer in the 1950s. After playing tenor saxophone and piano at sch ...

(1928–2014), American jazz pianist, composer and bandleader * Luis Silva (1943–2008), American Tejano songwriter *Lúcio Silva da Souza, known artistically as

Silva Silva, da Silva, and de Silva are surnames of Portuguese or Galician origin which are widespread in the Portuguese-speaking countries including Brazil. The name is derived from Latin ("forest" or "woodland"). It is the family name of the Hous ...

, Brazilian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist * Malcolm "Mac" Silva (1947–1989), Aboriginal Australian musician, who appeared in the film '' Country Outcasts'' * Natalia Lafourcade Silva (born 1984), Mexican singer and musician * Rui da Silva (born 1968), Portuguese DJ * Stuart de Silva (born, Sri Lankan Australian jazz pianist * Virajini Lalithya de Silva (born 1973), Sri Lankan Sinhalese vocalist * Vivian Wilson da Silva Fernandes (born 1990), Indian Rapper from Mumbai, India, also known as DIVINE * Vivienne de Silva Boralessa (1930–2017), Sri Lankan vocalist (Buddhist devotional music) * Yohani Diloka de Silva, Sri Lankan singer, songwriter, rapper, music producer, YouTuber and businesswoman, also known as Yohani

Painters and sculptors

António Carvalho de Silva Porto António Carvalho da Silva (11 November 1850 – 1 June 1893), known as Silva Porto, was a Portuguese naturalist painter. Biography Born in Porto, he studied there under João António Correia and Tadeu de Almeida Furtado, then continued h ...

(1850–1893), Portuguese naturalist painter *Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (

Diego Velázquez Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez (baptised 6 June 15996 August 1660) was a Spanish painter, the leading artist in the Noble court, court of King Philip IV of Spain, Philip IV of Spain and Portugal, and of the Spanish Golden Age. He i ...

), Spanish painter * Francis Augustus Silva (1835–1886), American painter * Manuel Pereira da Silva (1920–2003), Portuguese sculptor * Marilyn da Silva (born 1952), American metalsmith *

Maria Helena Vieira da Silva Maria Helena Vieira da Silva (13 June 1908 – 6 March 1992) was a Portuguese abstract painter. She was considered a leading member of the European abstract expressionism movement known as Art Informel. Her works feature complex interiors and c ...

(1908–1992), Portuguese painter * William Posey Silva (1859–1948), American painter

Writers

;First name *

Silva Kaputikyan Silva Kaputikyan () (20 January 1919 – 25 August 2006) was an Armenian poet and political activist. One of the best-known Armenian writers of the twentieth century, she is recognized as "the leading poetess of Armenia" and "the grand lady of t ...

(1919–2006), Armenian poet, writer, academician and public activist ;Surname * Alfreda de Silva (1920–2001), Sri Lankan Sinhala poet, journalist, and screenwriter *

António Diniz da Cruz e Silva António Diniz da Cruz e Silva (4 July 1731 in Lisbon5 October 1799 in Rio de Janeiro) was a Portugal, Portuguese magistrate and heroic-comic poet, son of a Lisbon carpenter who emigrated to the Colonial Brazil, Portuguese colony of Brazil shortly b ...

(1731–1799), Portuguese heroic-comic poet * António José da Silva (1705–1739), eighteenth-century Brazilian Converso playwright known as "The Jew" *Arménio Adroaldo Vieira e Silva ( Arménio Vieira) (born 1941), Portuguese journalist *

Baltasar Lopes da Silva Baltasar Lopes da Silva (23 April 1907 – 8 May 1989) was a writer, poet and linguist from Cape Verde, who wrote in both Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole. With Manuel Lopes and Jorge Barbosa, he was the founder of '' Claridade''. In 1947 ...

, Cape Verdean writer *

Daniel Silva (novelist) Daniel Silva (born December 19, 1960) is an American journalist and author of thriller and spy novels. Early life Silva was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan. When he was seven years old, his family moved to Merced, California. He was raised as a Ca ...

, American author *

John de Silva John de Silva (13 January 1857 – 28 January 1922) was a Sri Lankan playwright. Life and career Early life De Silva was born on 13 January 1857 in Kotte. He worked as a teacher and a lawyer before entering theater. His first drama '' ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese playwright *José Gabriel Lopes da Silva (

Gabriel Mariano José Gabriel Lopes da Silva, also known as Gabriel Mariano (May 18, 1928 in Ribeira Grande – February 18, 2002 in Lisbon, Portugal), was a Cape Verdean poet, novelist, and an essayist. He studied at São Joaquim and graduated as director in Li ...

), Cape Verdean poet and essayist *Joseph Silva, a pseudonym of American author

Ron Goulart Ronald Joseph Goulart (; January 13, 1933 – January 14, 2022) was an American popular culture historian and mystery, fantasy and science fiction author. He worked on novels and novelizations (and other works) being published under various ps ...

* Luís Filipe Silva, Portuguese writer * Nihal De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese novelist * Sugathapala de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese dramatist, novelist, radio play producer, and translator *

Víctor Domingo Silva Víctor Domingo Silva Endeiza (May 12, 1882, Tongoy, Chile, Tongoy, Elqui Province – August 20, 1960, Santiago, Chile, Santiago) was a Chilean poet, journalist, playwright and writer. He was of Basque people, Basque descent by mother's side. ...

, Chilean poet, journalist, playwright and writer * Wellawattearachchige Abraham Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese novelist *

Wilson da Silva Wilson da Silva is an Australian feature writer, science journalist, editor and documentary filmmaker who has worked in magazines, newswires, newspapers, television and online. He is a co-founder and the long-serving former editor of ''Cosmos (m ...

, Australian/Portuguese science writer, editor and filmmaker

Other arts

* Ena de Silva, re-established Sri Lanka's batik industry * Ingrid Silva, Brazilian ballet dancer * Maria José Marques da Silva, Portuguese architect * Minnette de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese architect

Historical figures

Bernardo Peres da Silva Bernardo Peres da Silva (15 October 1775 – 18 November 1844) was a Portuguese politician and former medical practitioner who served as a governor of Portuguese India from January to February 1835. He was the first and only native Goan to be ...

, the first and only native Goan governor of Portuguese India *

Lucius Flavius Silva Lucius Flavius Silva Nonius Bassus was a late-1st-century Roman general, governor of the province of Iudaea and consul. Silva was the commander of the army, composed mainly of the ''Legio X Fretensis'', in 72 AD that laid siege to the near-impr ...

, Roman governor of Judea who crushed Jewish resistance at Masada in 73 AD *José Joaquim da Silva Xavier (1746–1792), known as

Tiradentes Joaquim José da Silva Xavier (; 12 November 1746 – 21 April 1792), known as Tiradentes (), was a leading member of the Colonial Brazil, colonial Brazilian revolutionary movement known as the Inconfidência Mineira, whose aim was full i ...

, Brazilian independence leader *

Mariana de Silva-Bazán y Sarmiento Mariana de Silva-Bazán y Sarmiento, also known as Mariana de Silva-Meneses and Sarmiento de Sotomayor, (Madrid, 14 October 1739 - Madrid, 17 January 1784), was an 18th-century Spanish aristocrat, writer, painter, and translator. She is remembered ...

(1739-1784), Spanish aristocrat, writer, painter, and translator * Pedro da Silva, first post courier of Canada (17th–18th century) *

Ruy Gómez de Silva Ruy or RUY may refer to: Arts and Entertainment *Ruy, the Little Cid, Spanish animated television series *Ruy Blas, a character in the eponymous tragic drama by Victor Hugo People *another form of Rui, a Portuguese male given name *another form o ...

(1516–1573), nobleman and cousin of Philip II of Spain

Judiciary

Eurico da Silva Eurico Santana da Silva (10 May 1933 – 28 March 2025) was an Indian judge of the Bench of the High Court of Bombay at Goa. Early life Eurico Santana da Silva was born on 10 May 1933 in Margao, Portuguese Goa. He graduated in Law and post gr ...

(1933–2025), Indian judge of the High Court of Bombay *

Janak de Silva Janak de Silva is a Sri Lankan lawyer who serves as a puisne justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. He was appointed by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and has served since 1 December 2020. Early life De Silva is an alumnus of Trinity Colleg ...

, Sri Lankan puisne justice of the Supreme Court (since 2020)

Media

* Chantal Da Silva, Canadian journalist working in the United Kingdom * Dayananda de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese radio journalist at Radio Ceylon *

João Silva (photographer) João Silva (born 9August 1966) is a Portuguese-born South African war photographer. He is the last working member of the Bang-Bang Club, a group of photographers who covered South Africa from the time of Nelson Mandela's release from prison in ...

, South African photographer *

Martin Silva Martin Silva (born September 4, 1952) is a Portuguese-born Canadian radio personality and former politician based in Toronto, Ontario. Biography Born in Sever do Vouga, Aveiro, Portugal, he emigrated to Canada in August 1968, where he gained ...

, Portuguese-Canadian politician and radio personality *

Sampath Lakmal de Silva Sampath Lakmal de Silva ( – July 2, 2006) was a Sri Lankan Freelance press and television journalist specialising in defense articles and wrote for various publications including Irudina, Lakbima, Sathdina and TNL and he also worked for various ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese journalist specializing in defense issues * Tatiana Silva Braga Tavares, Belgian model, Miss Belgium 2005 * Tom Silva, general contractor on the PBS show ''This Old House'' * Thotawatte Don Manuel Titus de Silva, known as Titus Thotawatte, Sri Lankan director and editor * Yohani Diloka de Silva, Sri Lankan singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer, and YouTuber

Political and military figures

* Alexander Edmund de Silva Wijegooneratne Samaraweera Rajapakse (1866–1937), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician * Amaro Silva, municipal politician in Winnipeg (Manitoba), Canada *

Aníbal Cavaco Silva Aníbal António Cavaco Silva (; born 15 July 1939) is a Portuguese economist and politician who served as the 19th president of Portugal, from 9 March 2006 to 9 March 2016, and as prime minister of Portugal, from 6 November 1985 to 25 October ...

, President of Portugal * Anthony Emmanuel Silva, Sri Lankan Tamil Member of Parliament *

António Maria da Silva António Maria da Silva, GCTE (; 26 May 1872 in Lisbon – 14 October 1950 in Lisbon) was a Portuguese politician. An engineer, he was a prominent member of the Portuguese Republican Party. He was Prime Minister (President of the Council of ...

, Portuguese politician *

Artur da Costa e Silva Artur da Costa e Silva (; 3 October 1899 – 17 December 1969) was a Brazilian Army Marshal and the second president of the Brazilian military government that came to power after the 1964 coup d'état. He reached the rank of Marshal of the Braz ...

, Brazilian military officer and politician * Asoka de Silva, 9th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy * Asoka de Silva, 42nd Chief Justice of Sri Lanka * Benedita da Silva, Brazilian politician * C. A. Mike N. Silva (1933-2019), Chief of Staff of the Sri Lanka Army * Charles Percival de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician * Charles de Silva Batuwantudawe (1877–1940), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician * Chitta Ranjan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer, Chairman of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, 40th Attorney General of Sri Lanka, 39th Solicitor General of Sri Lanka * Claude Henry de Silva, Singaporean lawyer * Colvin Reginald de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Trotskyist Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister of Plantation Industries and Constitutional Affairs * Crishantha de Silva, 21st Commander of the Sri Lanka Army * Desmond Lorenz de Silva, Sri Lankan Briton lawyer, former United Nations Chief War Crimes Prosecutor in Sierra Leone * D. G. Albert de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament * Duleep de Silva Wickramanayake, Sri Lankan Sinhala army major-general * Duminda Silva, Sri Lankan politician *

Estanislau da Silva Estanislau da Conceição Aleixo Maria da Silva (born 4 August 1952) is an East Timorese politician and a key member of Fretilin. He was acting Prime Minister from May 2007 to August 2007. A member of Fretilin since 1974, Da Silva served on t ...

, East Timorese politician and member of the Revolutionary Front for an Independent East Timor *

Eunice Silva Eunice Silva (born April 1956) is a Cape Verdean civil engineer, writer and politician from Santiago. Career Eunice Andrade da Silva Spencer Lopes was born on Santiago, Cape Verde in April 1956 and was the second-eldest of nine siblings. She at ...

, Cape Verdean civil engineer and politician * Francisco de Paula Vieira da Silva de Tovar, 1st Viscount of Molelos, Portuguese politician * Frank de Silva (born 1935), Inspector-General of Sri Lanka Police from 1993–1995 *

Fredrick de Silva Edmund Fredrick Lorenz de Silva, (1912–1993) was a Ceylonese lawyer and politician. He was the Mayor of Kandy, Member of Parliament and Sri Lanka's Ambassador to France. Early life and legal career Born to George E. de Silva, a prominent ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and politician * Gardiye Punchihewage Amaraseela Silva, 34th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka * George E. de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and politician * G.E.S. de Silva,

Commanding Officer The commanding officer (CO) or commander, or sometimes, if the incumbent is a general officer, commanding general (CG), is the officer in command of a military unit. The commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually give ...

of the Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force * G. H. De Silva, 13th Commander of the Sri Lanka Army *

Golbery do Couto e Silva Golbery do Couto e Silva (21 August 1911 – 18 September 1987) was a Brazilian general and politician. Biography Golbery do Couto e Silva was born in Rio Grande, a city in the Southern State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. At the age of 16, he j ...

, Brazilian politician * G. P. S. de Silva, 40th Chief Justice of Sri Lanka * George Reginald de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician * Gratian Silva (1933–2015), Sri Lankan Sinhala army major general * H. A. Silva, 11th Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy * Hélio José da Silva Lima (born 1960), Brazilian politician known as Hélio José * Herman Leonard de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese lawyer and diplomat, 12th Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka to the United Nations in New York *

Israel Pinheiro da Silva Israel Pinheiro da Silva (4 January 1896 – 6 July 1973) was a Brazilian politician and engineer. Pinheiro da Silva was a friend of President Juscelino Kubitschek and was nominated by him the engineer chief of the construction of Bras� ...

, Brazilian politician and engineer * Jaime Silva, former Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries of Portugal * Jayatilleke De Silva (1938–2019), Sri Lankan Sinhala Communist guerrilla * Jim Silva, American politician * José Albino Silva Peneda, Portuguese politician *

José Bonifácio de Andrada José is a predominantly Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese form of the given name Joseph. While spelled alike, this name is pronounced very differently in each of the two languages: Spanish ; Portuguese (or ). In French, the name ''J ...

e Silva, Brazilian activist * K. L. A. Ranasinghe Silva, 41st Surveyor General of Sri Lanka * Leopold James de Silva Seneviratne, Sri Lankan Sinhala civil servant *

Lucien Macull Dominic de Silva Lucien Macull Dominic de Silva, Queen's Counsel, QC, Privy Council (United Kingdom), PC (25 April 1893 – 28 November 1962) was a Ceylonese lawyer and judge, who was a Solicitor General of Ceylon, sat on the Supreme Court of Ceylon and the Judic ...

(1893–1962), Sri Lankan Sinhala member of the Privy Council * Luís Alves de Lima e Silva, Duke of Caxias, Brazilian military commander *

Luís da Silva Mouzinho de Albuquerque Luís da Silva Mouzinho de Albuquerque (June 16, 1792 in Lisbon – December 27, 1846 in Torres Vedras; ) was a Portugal, Portuguese military officer, engineer, poet, scientist and politician, who distinguished himself during the Liberal Wars ...

, Portuguese politician * Luis Roberto da Sliva (born 1977), East Timorese politician *

Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (; born Luiz Inácio da Silva; 27 October 1945), known Mononym, mononymously as Lula, is a Brazilian politician, trade unionist and former metalworker who has served as the 39th president of Brazil since 2023. A mem ...

, current President of Brazil * Lydia Méndez Silva, Puerto Rican politician affiliated with the Popular Democratic Party * Makalandage Johnny Terrence De Silva Gunawardena, 8th Commander of the Sri Lanka Air Force * Manikku Wadumestri Hendrick de Silva, 26th Attorney General of Sri Lanka *

Manuel António Vassalo e Silva Manuel António Vassalo e Silva (8 November 1899 – 11 August 1985) was an officer of the Portuguese Army and an overseas administrator. He was the 128th and the last Governor-General of Portuguese India. Personal life Silva was the only son ...

, Portuguese politician * Manuel Carvalho da Silva, coordinator of the Portuguese Labour union federation *

Marina Silva Maria Osmarina Marina da Silva Vaz de Lima (born Maria Osmarina da Silva; 8 February 1958), known as Marina Silva, is a Brazilian politician and environmentalist, currently serving as Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, a position ...

, Brazilian environmentalist and politician * Mario Silva, Canadian politician *

Osmund de Silva Santiago Wilson Osmund De Silva (25 December 1909 - c. 1980) was Ceylonese police officer. He was the thirteenth and the first Ceylonese career police officer to become Inspector-General of Police (1955–1959). Early life and education ...

, 13th Inspector General of the Sri Lanka Police * Pandikoralalage Sunil Chandra De Silva, 35th Attorney General of Sri Lanka * Patrick de Silva Kularatna, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician and educationist * Pettagan Dedreck Weerasingha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament * Mervin Rex de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese fighter pilot who served in the Royal Air Force during World War II * Mervyn Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician * Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament for Galle Electoral District * Nilenthi Nimal Siripala de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician, Sri Lankan Minister of Transport * Peduru Hewage William de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Trotskyist politician, Cabinet Minister of Industries and Fisheries 1956–1959 * Piyal De Silva, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy * Piyal Nishantha de Silva (born 1970), Sri Lankan Sinhala Cabinet Minister *

Ranjith de Silva Major General T.T. Ranjith de Silva, Rana Wickrama Padakkama, RWP, Rana Sura Padakkama, RSP, Uttama Seva Padakkama, USP, Psc (British Army), psc was a Sri Lankan army general. He served as Security Forces Commander – Eastern Province and Governm ...

, Sri Lanka Light Infantry major-general * Rupika De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhala women's rights and peace activist * Sampathawaduge Stephen Anthony Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Member of Parliament * Sarath N. Silva, 41st Chief Justice of Sri Lanka *

Shan Wijayalal De Silva Shan Wijayalal De Silva is a Sri Lankan politician and Member of Parliament (MP) for the Galle District since 2020. Since 1 January 2024, he has belonged to the Samagi Jana Balawegaya. He formerly belonged to the Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the ...

, 5th Chief Minister of Southern Province, Sri Lanka *

Sharon Quirk-Silva Sharon Quirk-Silva (born September 17, 1962) is an American politician and educator serving as a member of the California State Assembly, representing the 65th Assembly District, which includes portions of northern Orange County, including La ...

(born 1962), American politician *

Shavendra Silva General Shavendra Silva, (, ) is a retired Sri Lanka Army officer who served as Chief of Defence Staff, the head of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2024. He also served as the Commander of the Sri Lanka Army fro ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese general and diplomat *

Sonia Silva Sonia Silva (born December 28, 1950) is an American social worker and politician. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Silva received her bachelor's degree in education from Northeastern Illinois University and her master's degree in public policy and urb ...

, American politician * Stephen de Silva Jayasinghe (1911–1977), Sri Lankan Sinhala politician * Thakur Artha Niranjan Joseph De Silva Deva Aditya (born 1948), Sri Lankan Briton politician * T. N. De Silva, former Commandant of the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force * Vincent Stuart de Silva Wikramanayake (1876–1953), Sri Lankan Sinhala lawyer and politician * Wilmot Arthur de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese politician, veterinary surgeon, and philanthropist, Minister of Health in the second State Council of Ceylon * Walwin Arnold de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese civil servant

Religion

*Saint

Beatrice of Silva Beatrice of Silva (Campo Maior, Portugal ca. 1424 – Toledo, Spain, Toledo, Crown of Castile, Castile, 16 August 1492), born Beatriz de Menezes da Silva, was a Portuguese people, Portuguese Nobility, noblewoman who became the foundress of the Chr ...

, Portuguese Dominican nun *

Clarence Richard Silva Clarence Richard Silva (born August 6, 1949), known as Larry Silva, is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has been serving as bishop of the Roman Catholic bishop of Honolulu, Diocese of Honolulu in Hawaii since 2005. Silva is the ...

, United States Catholic bishop *

Hezekiah da Silva Hezekiah da Silva (, also Hezekiah Silva; 1659–1698) was a rabbi and Jewish author born in Livorno, Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He was the son-in-law of the dayan Mordechai Rafael Malachi. Biography Hezekiah Da Silva was born in 1659 in Livorno, ...

, Jewish author born in Livorno, Italy, and teacher in Jerusalem *Blessed João Mendes de Silva (

Amadeus of Portugal Amadeus of Portugal (Campo Maior, Portugal ca. 1420 – Milan, Duchy of Milan, 10 August 1482), born João de Menezes da Silva, was a Portuguese nobleman who became first a Hieronymite monk, then left that life to become a friar of the Francisca ...

), Portuguese Hieronymite and later Franciscan * Kanishka de Silva Raffel (born 1964), Sri Lankan Australian Anglican priest, 12th Dean of St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney * Lynn de Silva, Sri Lankan Methodist theologian * Maxwell Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhala Catholic priest, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Colombo *

Raúl Silva Henríquez Raúl Silva Henríquez Salesians of Don Bosco, SDB (27 September 1907 – 9 April 1999) was a Chilean prelate of the Catholic Church, a Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal from 1962. He served as Archbishop of Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San ...

, Chilean cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church * Robert D'Silva, Pakistani Catholic priest

Scholars

* Agostinho da Silva (1906–1994), Portuguese philosopher * Arjuna Priyadarsin de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese gastroenterologist * Chandra Richard de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese academic, historian, and author * Clarence de Silva, Canadian engineer * Dudley Kenneth George de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese educationist *

Harendra de Silva Harendra de Silva is a pediatrician whose efforts have helped to create awareness of child abuse in Sri Lanka. Education de Silva was educated at Ananda College Colombo, before he entered the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, where he ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese pediatrician * H. Janaka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese physician * Jayathi De Silva, Sri Lankan scientist and model *

Jorge Nuno Silva Jorge Nuno Silva (born 1956) is a Portuguese mathematician who taught at the University of Lisbon, starting in 1995 and retiring in 2023. His interests encompass the pedagogy of mathematics, history of mathematics, history of board games, mathema ...

(born 1956), Portuguese mathematician * José Sebastião e Silva, Portuguese mathematician * Kingsley De Silva, Sri Lankan obstetrician and gynaecologist * Kingsley Muthumuni de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese academic, historian, and author * Kongahage Anslem Lawrence de Silva (born 1940), Sri Lankan Sinhala biologist and herpetologist * Maria Nazareth F. da Silva, Brazilian zoologist * Maurício Rocha e Silva (1910–1983), Brazilian physician * Mohan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese surgeon *

Moisés Silva Moisés Silva (born September 4, 1945) is a Cuban-born American biblical scholar and translator. Life He was born in Havana, Cuba, and has lived in the US since 1960. Education Silva holds degrees from Bob Jones University (BA, 1966), Westminste ...

, Cuban-born American professor of biblical studies *

Nalin de Silva Thakurartha Devadithya Guardiyawasam Lindamulage Nalin Kumar de Silva ( Sinhala: නලින් ද සිල්වා; 20 October 1944 – 1 May 2024) was a Sri Lankan philosopher, polymath and a political analyst. He was the former Sri Lan ...

, Sri Lankan Scholar * Primus Thilakaratne de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese senior consultant physician * Ranjith Premalal De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese professor of agricultural engineering * Sammu Raghu De Silva Chandrakeerthy, Sri Lankan Sinhalese engineering professor * Vajiranath Lakshman De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese doctor, founder of the Saukyadana Movement * Alcino J. Silva, Portugal-born American neuroscientist

Sports

Many people on this list are not generally known as Silva.In Brazil, sportspeople, especially footballers, are frequently referred to by their ''apelido''/''alcunha'', a one- or two-word appellation that may be part of their real name or a nickname. For example, Roberto Carlos da Silva is better known as ''Roberto Carlos'', Marta Vieira da Silva as ''Marta'', José Roberto da Silva Júnior as ''Zé Roberto'', and Nélson de Jesus Silva as ''Dida''. Ayrton Senna da Silva is a slightly different case; he chose to be known professionally by his mother's family name of Senna.

Auto racing

* Ayrton Senna da Silva, also known as Ayrton Senna or Senna, Brazilian Formula One triple world champion *

Ollie Silva Oliver W. Silva (May 14, 1929 – August 15, 2004) was an American auto racing driver. He raced in the Northeastern United States, winning many races, track championships, and touring-series championships. Silva drove in modifieds, supermodifi ...

, American automobile racer

Basketball

Chris Silva Chris Silva Obame Correia Silva (born September 19, 1996) is a Gabonese professional basketball player for Bnei Herzliya of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. He played college basketball for the South Carolina Gamecocks, and has played in t ...

(Chris Silva Obame Correia; born 1996), Gabonese player in the

Israeli Basketball Premier League Ligat HaAl (, lit., ''Supreme League or Premier League''), or the Israeli Basketball Premier League, is a professional basketball league in Israel and the highest level of basketball in the country. The league's name is abbreviated as either BSL ...

Filipe da Silva Filipe da Silva (born 30 November 1979 in Guimarães) is a Portuguese-French professional basketball coach and former player. Professional career In his pro career, he played with the Spanish club CB Villa de los Barrios. External links French ...

, Portuguese player * Maria Paula Silva, Brazilian player *

Oscar da Silva Oscar Leon da Silva (born 21 September 1998) is a German-Brazilian professional basketball player for Bayern Munich of the German Basketball Bundesliga (BBL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for the Stanford Cardinal. Early life ...

(born 1998), German basketball player * Paulo César da Silva or

Giant Silva Paulo César da Silva (born July 21, 1963) is a Brazilian former national basketball player for the Brazilian national basketball team and later mixed martial artist and professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Giant Silva. He stands ...

(born 1962), Brazilian national player, later wrestler and mixed martial artist *

Tristan da Silva Tristan da Silva (born 15 May 2001) is a German-Brazilian basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Colorado Buffaloes. Early life Da Silva was born and raised in Mu ...

(born 2001), Brazilian-German basketball player

Beach volleyball

* Jackie Silva, Brazilian beach volleyball player * Paulo Emilio Silva, Brazilian beach volleyball player

Cricket

Alankara Asanka Silva Alankara Asanka Silva (born 4 April 1985) is a Sri Lankan first-class cricketer who plays for Saracens Sports Club. He holds the record for the highest individual score when batting at number 11 in a Twenty20 match (26 not out In cricket, a b ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Amal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer *

Amila Silva Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team in Sri Lanka. They made their first-class debut in 1991 against Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club at Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground in Colombo. In the 1993/94 season, they were ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer *

Aravinda De Silva Deshabandu Pinnaduwage Aravinda de Silva (, ; born 17 October 1965) is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, regarded as one of the best Sri Lankan cricketers, he played in the team as an all-rounder. De Silva was a key member of the Sri L ...

, Sri Lankan international cricketer * Aruna de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer * Ashen Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer * Ashley de Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer * Asiri de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Asoka de Silva, Sri Lankan international cricketer * Bertie de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer who played for the University of Oxford * Chalana de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer *

Chamara Silva Lindamlilage Prageeth Chamara Silva (; born 14 December 1979) is a former Sri Lankan people, Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all formats of the game for 12 years. He is a right-handed batsman and a leg-break bowler. He has been compared with A ...

, Sri Lankan international cricketer * Chamod Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Chirantha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Damitha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Dandeniya Premachandra de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Dandeniyage Somachandra de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer * Dedunu Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardena, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Deva Lokesh Stanley de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese ODI cricketer * Dhananjaya Maduranga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Elle Hennadige Shadeep Nadeeja Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer who played for United Arab Emirates * Emmanuel Nadhula de Silva Wijeratne, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Ganga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese woman cricketer * Gayashan Ranga de Silva Munasinghe, Sri Lankan Italian cricketer * Gihan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Ginigalgodage Ramba Ajit de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Granville Nissanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Hanthana Dewage Rashmi Sewandi Silva (born 2000), Sri Lankan Sinhala cricketer for Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club * Hasitha Lakmal de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Hendahewage Sanjeewa Gayan Sameera Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer for the United Arab Emirates * Janith Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Jayan Kaushal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer *

Joshua Da Silva Joshua Michael Da Silva (born 19 June 1998) is a Trinidadian cricketer. He made his domestic debut in 2018 for Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team, Trinidad and Tobago, and his international debut for the West Indies cricket team in Decem ...

, Trinidadian cricketer, test match wicket keeper/batsman for the West Indies cricket team * Kariyawasam Thantrige Gayan Thilanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Bahraini cricketer * Karunakalage Sajeewa Chanaka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Kasun de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Kelaniyage Jayantha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Lanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer * Liyana de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Malinga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Mangamuni Gamini Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer * Manelker De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Milroy Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Muthumuni Raween Lakshitha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Nilakshi de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Nilan De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Patiharamada Juwan Hewage Sanath Ranjan Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Pinnaduwage Chaturanga de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga De Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Pradeep de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Ramindu de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Richard Martin M. de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Rodrigo Hennedige Sanjeewa Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Roshan Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Roshen Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer *

Roy Silva Roy Silva (born 9 May 1980) is a Sri Lankan-born American cricketer, who currently plays for the United States cricket team. He made his first-class debut in the 2000–01 season. He made his Twenty20 debut on 17 August 2004, for Moors Sports C ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Rumesh Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Sammu Nirwantha Thikshila de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Sampathwaduge Amal Rohitha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese international cricketer * Sanath de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Senal de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Shaluka Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Sripal Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer *

T. Silva T. Silva (first name and birthdate unknown) was a Sri Lankan cricketer who played for Kalutara Physical Culture Centre. Silva made five first-class appearances for the team, during the Saravanamuttu Trophy competition of 1991–92. The captain of ...

, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Warshamannada Pradeep de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Weddikkara Ruwan Sujeewa de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese test cricketer * Woshantha Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Yakupiti Gayan Asanka de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese cricketer * Yohan de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese first-class cricketer

Football

Brazil

;Male international players *Afonso Guimarães da Silva, Afonsinho * Alexandre da Silva Mariano *Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva,

Alexandre Pato Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva (; born 2 September 1989), commonly known as Alexandre Pato () or just Pato, is a Brazilian former professional association football, footballer who played as a Striker (association football), striker. Pato began ...

*Cleonésio Carlos da Silva *

Dani Alves Daniel "Dani" Alves da Silva (; born 6 May 1983) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a right-back. Widely regarded as one of the best full-backs of all time, he is also one of the most decorated players with 43 trophies ...

, Daniel Alves da Silva *Danilo Luiz da Silva,

Danilo Danilo is a given name found in Italian, Portuguese, Spanish and Serbian. Notable people with the name Danilo include: Athletes Footballers * Danilo (footballer, born 1979), Brazilian footballer Danilo de Andrade * Danilo (footballer, born ...

* Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva *

Gilberto Silva Gilberto Aparecido da Silva (; born 7 October 1976) is a Brazilian former professional association football, footballer who played as a Midfielder#Defensive midfielder, defensive midfielder, most notably for Brazilian side Atlético Mineiro a ...

* Gilberto da Silva Melo *

Giovanni Silva de Oliveira Giovanni Silva de Oliveira (born 4 February 1972), better known as Giovanni, is a Brazilian football manager and former player. He played as either an attacking midfielder or a forward. At club level, Giovanni most notably played for Spanish ...

*Heurelho da Silva Gomes,

Heurelho Gomes Heurelho da Silva Gomes (born 15 February 1981) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper (association football), goalkeeper. He played for Premier League clubs Tottenham Hotspur F.C., Tottenham Hotspur and Watfor ...

* Jackson Coelho Silva *João Alves de Assis Silva, Jô * Jorge Luís Andrade da Silva *José Roberto da Silva Júnior,

Zé Roberto José Roberto da Silva Júnior (born 6 July 1974), commonly known as Zé Roberto, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left wing-back or as a midfielder. He is most well-known for his time with Bayer Leverkusen and Bay ...

Leônidas da Silva Leonidas was the king of Sparta who ruled c. 489–480 BC, and who led the allied Greek forces in a last stand at the Battle of Thermopylae. Leonidas may also refer to: People Antiquity *Leonidas I, Greek king of Sparta, ruled c. 489– ...

*Lucimar Ferreira da Silva,

Lúcio Lucimar Ferreira da Silva (born 8 May 1978), commonly known as Lúcio, is a Brazilian former professional association football, footballer who played as a centre-back. A tall and physically strong defender who excelled in the air, he is regard ...

*Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva,

Lucas Moura Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva (born 13 August 1992), known as Lucas Moura (), is a Brazilian professional association football, footballer who plays as a Winger (association football), winger or Midfielder (association football), attacking midf ...

* Luiz Alberto da Silva Oliveira *Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior,

Marcelo Marcelo is a given name, the Spanish and Portuguese form of Marcellus (name), Marcellus. Marcelo may refer to: Given name *Marcelo Costa de Andrade (born 1967), Brazilian serial killer, rapist, and necrophile *Marcelo Arriagada (born 1973), Chile ...

Mauro Silva Mauro da Silva Gomes (; born 12 January 1968), known as Mauro Silva, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder. A hard-working player with great stamina, as well as tackling and leadership skills, he ...

, Mauro da Silva Gomes *Nélson de Jesus Silva, Dida (footballer born 1973) *

Neymar Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior (; born 5 February 1992), also known as Neymar Júnior or simply Neymar, is a Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a left winger, attacking midfielder or Forward (association foo ...

, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior *Nilmar Honorato da Silva, Nilmar * Oscarino Costa Silva *Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha,

Roberto Carlos Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha (born 10 April 1973), often known as Roberto Carlos and sometimes ''RC3'', is a Brazilian former professional association football, footballer. He has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the ...

* Rodrygo Silva de Goes * Sean de Silva *Thiago Emiliano da Silva,

Thiago Silva Thiago Emiliano da Silva (born 22 September 1984) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for and captains Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fluminense. Regarded as one of the best defenders of all time, he is known ...

* Willian, Willian Borges da Silva ;Female international players * Cristiane Rozeira de Souza Silva * Kátia, Kátia Cilene Teixeira da Silva *

Marta (footballer) Marta Vieira da Silva (; born 19 February 1986), known mononymously as Marta, is a Brazilian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Forward (association football), forward for National Women's Soccer League club Orlando P ...

, Marta Vieira da Silva * Thaís Helena da Silva ;Others * Adaílton da Silva Santos *

Adriano Pereira da Silva Adriano Pereira da Silva, known as Adriano (born 3 April 1982 in Salvador, Bahia), is a Brazilian football defender. He most recently played for Monaco. Career Club He was signed by Palermo from Grêmio in summer 2004, but just played one le ...

* Aílton Gonçalves da Silva *Airton Ferreira da Silva ( Airton Pavilhão) *

Alan Osório da Costa Silva Alan Osório da Costa Silva (born 19 September 1979), known simply as Alan, is a Brazilian former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Midfielder#Winger, winger. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 400 matches and 51 goal ...

Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Villela Ana Paula Pereira da Silva Villela (born 16 February 1997), known as Ana Paula, is a Brazilian women's association football forward, who plays for 1207 Antalya Spor in the Turkish Women's Football Super League with jersey number 9. Private li ...

* André Luiz Silva do Nascimento * Antônio da Silva (footballer) * David da Silva *Deivson Rogério da Silva (

Bobô (footballer, born 1985) Deyvison Rogério da Silva (born 9 January 1985), commonly known as Bobô, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward. Club career Beşiktaş Bobô was leading goalscorer of Beşiktaş in the 2006–07 season, with ...

) * Diego da Silva Costa *Elisérgio da Silva ( Serginho Baiano) *

Elpídio Silva Elpídio Pereira da Silva Filho (born 19 July 1975), known as Silva, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker. He spent most of his career in Portugal, mainly representing Boavista and amassing Primeira Liga total ...

* Fábio da Silva Alves *

Fábio do Nascimento Silva Fabio is a given name descended from Latin ''Fabius'' and very popular in Italy and Latin America (due to Italian migration). The name is written without an accent in Italian and Spanish, but is usually accented in Portuguese as ''Fábio'' (with t ...

* Fábio Ferreira da Silva *

Fábio Pereira da Silva Fabio Pereira da Silva (; born 9 July 1990), known as Fabio, is a Brazilian former professional association football, footballer who last played as a Defender (association football)#Full-back, full-back for Brazilian club Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto ...

Hugo Veloso Oliveira Silva Hugo Veloso Oliveira Silva (born May 25, 1984), is a Brazilian midfielder. He currently plays for Uberlândia Esporte Clube Uberlândia Esporte Clube, usually known simply as Uberlândia, is a Brazilian football team from the city of Uberl ...

*Jefferson Teixeira Silva ( Jefferson Luis) * Johnathan Aparecido da Silva * José Fábio da Silva * Josualdo Alves da Silva Oliveira * Lauro Antonio Ferreira da Silva * Lucenilde Pereira da Silva * Luciano José Pereira da Silva *

Luís Cláudio Carvalho da Silva Luis is a given name. It is the Spanish form of the originally Germanic name or . Other Iberian Romance languages have comparable forms: (with an accent mark on the i) in Portuguese and Galician, in Aragonese and Catalan, while is archaic ...

* Manoel de Oliveira da Silva Júnior * Marcos Roberto da Silva Barbosa * Marcus Lima Silva * Michael Anderson Pereira da Silva * Otacilio Jales da Silva *

Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva Paulo Sérgio Oliveira da Silva (19 October 1974 – 27 October 2004), better known as Serginho, was a Brazilian footballer who played as a defender. Career Serginho started his career in the town of Coronel Fabriciano, Minas Gerais state ...

* Rafael Pereira da Silva, footballer, born 1980 * Rafael Pereira da Silva, footballer, born 1990 * Renan Teixeira da Silva * Sérgio Severino da Silva * Tiago Silva dos Santos * Ueslei Raimundo Pereira da Silva *Vitor Silva Assis de Oliveira Júnior ( Vitor Júnior) *Wender Coelho da Silva (

Teco (footballer) Wender Coelho da Silva (born August 11, 1982 in Vila Velha), or simply Teco, is a Brazilian central defender. He currently plays for Esporte Clube São José, EC São José. Career Teco is currently recuperating from a serious knee injury in Gre ...

) *

Wéverton Pereira da Silva Weverton may refer to: People * Weverton (footballer, born 1987), full name Weverton Pereira da Silva, Brazilian football goalkeeper * Wéverton (footballer, born 1992), full name Wéverton Gomes Souza, Brazilian football forward * Weverton (footba ...

* William da Silva Barbosa

Colombia

* Jaime Silva * Nelson Silva Pacheco

Croatia

Eduardo da Silva Eduardo Alves da Silva (, ; born 25 February 1983), known as simply Eduardo or Dudu, is a former professional Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football)#Striker, striker for multiple clubs and the Croatia n ...

England

* Jay Dasilva

Equatorial Guinea

*Emmanuel Danilo Clementino Silva ( Danilo Clementino)

France

* Damien Da Silva, French footballer

Paraguay

* Anthony Domingo Silva *

Paulo da Silva Paulo César da Silva Barrios (born 1 February 1980) is a Paraguayan former professional international footballer who played as a centre-back. He is one of the players in football with most official appearances ever with over 1,039 official a ...

Portugal

* Adrien Silva *André Miguel Valente da Silva ( André Silva) * Anthony da Silva * António Conceição da Silva Oliveira *

Bernardo Silva Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva (; born 10 August 1994) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder or right winger for club Manchester City, whom he captains, and the Portugal national team. Silva came throug ...

, Bernardo Mota Veiga de Carvalho e Silva * Carlos da Silva * Jose Bosingwa Da Silva * Daniel da Silva Soares *

David Mendes da Silva David Miquel Mendes da Silva Gonçalves (; born 4 August 1982) is a Dutch former professional footballer. During his career, he played for Red Bull Salzburg, AZ, Sparta Rotterdam, Ajax, Panathinaikos and NAC Breda. He was a versatile player ...

* Edson Rolando Silva Sousa *

Eusébio Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (; 25 January 1942 – 5 January 2014), nicknamed the "Black Panther", the "Black Pearl" or "O Rei" ("The King"), was a Portuguese Association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football)#Stri ...

da Silva Ferreira * José Carlos da Silva José *José Manuel da Silva Fernandes (

Zé Manel (footballer) José Manuel da Silva Fernandes (born 22 February 1975), commonly known as Zé Manel, is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a winger. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 270 matches and 51 goals over ten seasons, mainly ...

) *João Nuno da Silva Cardoso Lucas ( João Lucas) *

João Paulo da Silva Gouveia Morais João is a given name of Portuguese origin. It is equivalent to the given name John. The diminutive is Joãozinho and the feminine is Joana. It is widespread in Portuguese-speaking countries. Notable people with the name are enumerated in the s ...

* José Paulo Sousa da Silva *João Pedro da Silva Pereira ( João Pereira (Portuguese footballer)) *Lourenço da Silva ( Luís Lourenço) *

Marco Silva Marco Alexandre Saraiva da Silva (; born 12 July 1977) is a Portuguese Manager (association football), football manager and former Football player, player who played as a right-back. He is the manager of club Fulham F.C., Fulham. He played fo ...

, Marco Alexandre Saraiva da Silva *

Mário Silva (footballer) Mário Fernando Magalhães da Silva (born 24 April 1977; ) is a Portuguese former footballer who played as a left-back, currently manager of Saudi Arabian club Al-Najma. Playing career Silva was born in Porto. Having grown through the ranks of ...

(Paulo César da Silva Barrios) * Paulo Monteiro (Paulo Armando da Silva Monteiro) *

Ricardo Emídio Ramalho Silva Ricardo Emídio Ramalho da Silva (born 26 September 1975; ) is a Portuguese retired professional footballer who played as a central defender. He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 264 matches and 16 goals in 15 seasons, representing in the competi ...

Spain

David Silva David Josué Jiménez Silva (born 8 January 1986) is a Spanish former professional Association football, footballer who played mainly as a Midfielder#Central midfielder, central or an Midfielder#Attacking midfielder, attacking midfielder and o ...

, David Josué Jiménez Silva *

Donato Gama da Silva Donato Gama da Silva (born 30 December 1962), known simply as Donato, is a football manager and former player who played from the 1980s to early 2000s. He spent most of his professional career in Spain – 15 years and more than 500 official g ...

* Fernando Macedo da Silva

Sri Lanka

Anton Silva Anton Silva (born October 28, 1964) is a former Sri Lankan professional association football, footballer who played as a Forward (association football), striker and represented Sri Lanka national football team in 1996 and 1997. International ca ...

* Dillon De Silva (born 2002), Sinhala footballer

Uruguay

* Bruno Silva *

Darío Silva Darío Debray Silva Pereira (born 2 November 1972) is a Uruguayan retired professional footballer who played as a striker. After making a name for himself in his country and in Italy with Cagliari, he spent the following seven years of his car ...

* Martín Silva * Néstor Silva * Pablo Silva * Santiago Silva

Managers and referees

* Carlos Silva Valente, Portuguese football referee *

Fred Silva Fred Silva (October 18, 1927 – December 3, 2004) was an American football official in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons from 1968 to 1988. Silva was widely known for his coolness under fire on the football field and clappin ...

, United States American-football official *

Telê Santana Telê Santana da Silva, also known as Telê Santana (July 26, 1931 – April 21, 2006) was a Brazilian football manager and former player (right winger). He was born in Itabirito, Minas Gerais. Telê was the manager responsible for putting to ...

da Silva, Brazilian football manager *

Vanderlei Luxemburgo Vanderlei Luxemburgo da Silva (born 10 May 1952) is a retired former Brazilian professional football coach and player. A left wingback, Luxemburgo represented Flamengo, Internacional and Botafogo before retiring in 1980. He subsequently be ...

da Silva, Brazilian football coach

Martial arts

Anderson Silva Anderson da Silva (; born 14 April 1975) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional boxer. He is a former UFC Middleweight Champion and holds the record for the longest title reign in UFC history at 2,457 days. This started in 2006 ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist * Antônio Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist *

Assuério Silva Assuério Silva (born June 18, 1974) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist and professional boxer, having competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Pancrase. He became the Heavyweight King of Pancrase on May 30, 2007, defeating Tatsuya Mi ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist * Edinanci Silva, Brazilian judoka *

Erick Silva Erick Silva (born June 21, 1984) is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. A professional from 2005 till 2019, he competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Bellator MMA, and Jungle Fight, where he ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist *

(Paulo César da Silva), Brazilian mixed martial artist *

Jay Silva Jay Silva (born May 25, 1981) is an Angolan-born American mixed martial artist currently competing in the Heavyweight division. A professional competitor since 2008, Silva has also formerly competed for the UFC, Bellator, the MFC, KSW, and T ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist * Jussier da Silva, Brazilian mixed martial artist * Natália Falavigna da Silva, Brazilian taekwondo athlete *

Thiago Silva (fighter) Thiago Silva (born November 12, 1982) is a Brazilian kickboxer and mixed martial artist who competes in the Light Heavyweight division of Eagle FC. A professional competitor since 2005, he has competed for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist *

Wanderlei Silva Wanderlei César da Silva ( , , ; born 3 July 1976) is a Brazilian former mixed martial artist who competed in Japan's Pride Fighting Championships and the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He holds the record for the most wins, knockouts, ...

, Brazilian mixed martial artist

Track and field

* Adhemar da Silva, Brazilian athlete * Álvaro Silva (athlete) (1965–2025), Portuguese sprinter *

Anísio Silva Anísio Souza Silva (born 18 June 1969 in São Paulo) is a retired triple jumper from Brazil, who won the silver medal in the men's triple jump at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. He represented his native country at two consecutive Sum ...

, Brazilian triple jumper * Carlos Silva (hurdler) (born 1974), Portuguese hurdler *

Fábio Gomes da Silva Fabio is a given name descended from Latin ''Fabius'' and very popular in Italy and Latin America (due to Italian migration). The name is written without an accent in Italian and Spanish, but is usually accented in Portuguese as ''Fábio'' (with t ...

, pole vaulter * Fátima Silva, Portuguese long-distance runner *

Germán Silva Germán Silva Martínez (born 9 January 1968 in Zacatlán, Puebla) is a Mexican former long-distance runner who specialized in the marathon. His foremost achievements were back-to-back victories at the New York City Marathon in 1994 and 1995. He ...

, Mexican long-distance runner * Jani Chathurangani Chandra Silva Hondamuni, Sri Lankan Sinhalese sprinter *

Joaquim Silva (athlete) Joaquim Silva (born January 13, 1961) is a retired long-distance runner from Portugal, who won the 1994 edition of the Vienna Marathon. He represented his native country in the men's marathon at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, finis ...

, Portuguese long-distance runner *

Joseildo da Silva Joseildo Rocha da Silva (born 20 February 1965) is a Brazilian long-distance track event, long-distance runner. He won the 1991 Chicago Marathon, the marathon event at the 1991 South American Championships in Athletics, and the 1993 Los Angeles ...

, Brazilian long-distance runner * Osmiro Silva, Brazilian long-distance runner * Pedro da Silva (athlete), Brazilian decathlete *

Robson da Silva Robson Caetano da Silva (born September 4, 1964 in Rio de Janeiro) is a Brazilian sprinter. He participated in four consecutive Olympic Summer Games (1984, 1988, 1992, 1996) and won the bronze medal over 200 metres in the 1988 Seoul Olympics as ...

, Brazilian sprinter *

Rui Silva (athlete) Rui Manuel Monteiro Silva (born 3 August 1977) is a Portuguese track and field athlete and coach who represents S.L. Benfica. As a distance runner, he specializes at the 1500 and 3000 m events, although he has at times run the 800 metres as we ...

, Portuguese Olympic athlete *

Vânia Silva Vânia Sofia de Sousa Silva (born 8 June 1980) is a Portuguese female hammer thrower. Her personal best throw is 69.55 metres, achieved in May 2011 in Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal. She competed at the World Championships in 2001, 2003, 2 ...

, Portuguese hammer thrower

Other sports

* Carlos Silva (baseball), Venezuelan baseball player * Chandrika de Silva, Sri Lankan badminton player * Cherantha de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese swimmer * Daniel Silva (golfer), Portuguese golfer * Eden Giselle Silva, Sri Lankan Briton tennis player * Emanuel Silva, Portuguese flatwater canoeist *

Eurico Rosa da Silva Eurico Rosa da Silva (; born June 29, 1975, in Buri, São Paulo, Brazil) is a retired Thoroughbred racing jockey who raced for five years in his native Brazil and another four years in Macau before coming to Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario ...

, Brazilian-born Canadian jockey * Fabiola da Silva, Brazilian inline skater *

Frederico Ferreira Silva Frederico Ferreira "Kiko" Silva (; born 18 March 1995) is a Portuguese tennis player who currently competes mainly on the ATP Challenger Tour. On May 24, 2021, Silva reached a career singles high ranking of No. 168. He also reached a career-hig ...

, Portuguese tennis player * Garth da Silva, New Zealand boxer * Inoka Rohini de Silva, Sri Lankan badminton player *

Jamie Silva James J. Silva (born December 14, 1984) is an American former professional football player who was a safety for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Boston College Eagles, earning conse ...

, American football safety *

Jason Silva Jason Luis Silva Mishkin (born February 6, 1982) is a Venezuelan-American television personality, short filmmaker, futurist, and public speaker. He is known for hosting the National Geographic documentaries '' Brain Games'' and ''Origins''. He ...

, American rock climber * John da Silva, New Zealand wrestler and boxer * Luis Cardoso da Silva, Brazilian paracanoeist * Luís Mena e Silva, Portuguese horse rider *

Neuza Silva Neuza Silva (born 4 May 1983) is a Portuguese former tennis player. Her career-high singles ranking is world No. 133, reached on 6 July 2009;, on 6 July 2008, she peaked at No. 185 in the doubles rankings. Silva regularly competed for the Portu ...

, Portuguese tennis player *

Raquel Silva Raquel Peluci Xavier Camargo da Silva (born 30 April 1978), more commonly known as Raquel, is a Brazilian former volleyball player who played for the Brazil women's national volleyball team at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, where she won a ...

, Brazilian volleyball player * Roberto Silva Nazzari, Uruguayan chess master *

Rogério Dutra Silva Rogério Dutra da Silva (; born February 3, 1984) is a former Brazilian professional tennis player. Dutra Silva had a career high ATP singles ranking of 63 achieved on July 24, 2017 and a career high ATP doubles ranking of 84 achieved on Febru ...

, Brazilian tennis player

Other professions

* A. E. de Silva, Sri Lankan businessman *

Eugenia Silva Eugenia Silva (born January 13, 1976) is a Spanish model. She has been the face of many fashion houses such as Dolce & Gabbana and Oscar de la Renta. Career Her first fashion contact was in 1992, when Eugenia Silva was 16. She competed in the ...

, Spanish model * Sir Ernest de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese business magnate, banker, and barrister * George David Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese Australian mass murderer * João Marques Silva, Portuguese researcher *

José da Silva Pais José da Silva Pais (25 October 1679 – 14 November 1760) was a Portuguese soldier, military engineer and colonial administrator in the Portuguese colony of Brazil. He was involved in diverse situations in the disputed territories between the ...

, Portuguese soldier * Kamaj Silva (born 1983), Sri Lankan Sinhala entrepreneur * Moises Teixeira da Silva, Brazilian robber *

Palmira Silva On 4 September 2014, 82-year-old Palmira Silva was Decapitation, beheaded in her back garden in Edmonton, London, by 25-year-old Nicholas Salvador, who was on a rampage. Friends of Salvador had recently noticed odd behaviour by him, including dru ...

, British murder victim *

Riccardo Silva Riccardo Silva (born 1970) is an Italian businessman. He is the owner of Silva International Investments, which has investments in a range of companies across media, sports, entertainment, art, and real estate. He is also a co-owner of AC M ...

(born 1970), Italian businessman * Quentin D'Silva, Pakistani businessman *

Stella de Silva Stella Gertrude de Silva (2 June, 1918 - 12 April, 2012), was a medical doctor and paediatrician from Sri Lanka. Biography De Silva was born in Balapitiya, and attended Prajapathi Vidyalaya, Ambalangoda and the single-sex girls' school, Southl ...

(1918 - 2012), paediatrician from Sri Lanka * Steven Silva, American chef * Thakurartha Devadithya Guardiyawasam Lindamulage Nalin Kumara de Silva, Sri Lankan Sinhalese promoter of pseudoscience * Jean Charles da Silva e de Menezes, known as Jean Charles de Menezes, Brazilian man killed by British police in 2005

Fictional characters

* Silva (''Shaman King''), a character in ''Shaman King'' *Silva, a mystical speaking necklace in ''GARO'' *

Raoul Silva Raoul Silva (also known as Tiago Rodrigues) is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the 2012 James Bond film ''Skyfall''. He is portrayed by Javier Bardem. A former MI6 agent, he turns to cyberterrorism and begins targeting the agen ...

, the antagonist of the James Bond film ''

Skyfall ''Skyfall'' is a 2012 spy thriller film and the twenty-third in the ''James Bond'' series produced by Eon Productions. The film is the third to star Daniel Craig as fictional MI6 agent James Bond and features Javier Bardem as Raoul Silva, ...

'' *Rose Da Silva, Christopher Da Silva and Sharon Da Silva, fictional characters in the film ''

Silent Hill is a horror media franchise centered on a series of survival horror games created by Keiichiro Toyama and published by Konami. The first four main games—'' Silent Hill'', '' Silent Hill 2'', '' Silent Hill 3'', and '' Silent Hill 4: The ...

'' *Kristen De Silva, protagonist in ''

Child's Play 3 ''Child's Play 3'' is a 1991 American slasher film and the third installment in the '' Child's Play'' film series. The film is written by Don Mancini and directed by Jack Bender. Brad Dourif once again reprised his role as Chucky from the previ ...

'', played by Perrey Reeves * Noelle Silva, a character in ''Black Clover'' * Octavio Silva, a playable character known as Octane in ''

Apex Legends ''Apex Legends'' is a 2019 Battle royale game, battle royale-hero shooter video game developed by Respawn Entertainment and published by Electronic Arts, set in the same science fiction universe as Respawn's ''Titanfall'' series. It is offered ...

References

Bibliography

* BOUZA ZERRANO, José. ''Da Descendência de Don Francisco Prieto Gayoso'. Edição do Autor, 1ª Edição, Lisboa, 1980. * COROMINES, Joan. ''Onomasticon Cataloniæ'' (vol. I-VIII). Barcelona: 1994. * SOUSA, Manuel de. '' As origens dos apelidos das famílias portuguesas''. Sporpress, 2001. * TÁVORA, D. Luis de Lancastre e. ''Dicionário das Famílias Portuguesas''. Quetzal Editores, 2ª Edição, Lisboa, pág. 324. {{Authority control Portuguese-language surnames Galician-language surnames Topographic surnames