 It lies on a 751 m high hill called Šilen Tabor, which is a part of "Slavniški ravnik", a hill chain that separates the Pivka Basin from the Reka Valley.The name of the settlement was changed from "Tabor" to "Tabor nad Knežakom" in 1955.The name was changed again to "Šilentabor" in 2000.The name originates from the time of Turkish invasions, when it was used as a shelter from Turkish soldiers.