Rising since 2005, #2,332 for boys today.
Popularity of Soul since 2000
Babies named Soul per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 13 | 42 |
| 2010s | 60 | 113 |
| 2020s | 249 | 306 |
Meaning & origin
Soul entered U.S. naming records in 2000 and has been steadily climbing in use ever since. By 2022, it reached its peak rank, and in 2023 it held rank 2,332, given to about 1 in 28,950 newborns. The name has shown a rising trajectory since 2005, with notable popularity in states like Georgia, Ohio, and California. As a word name drawn from English, Soul fits into a broader category of spiritual and philosophical names that resonate with modern parents seeking meaning outside traditional name pools. Its unisex appeal and simple pronunciation contribute to its gradual ascent.
Soul is a modern English word name taken directly from the English vocabulary word 'soul,' meaning the spiritual or immaterial essence of a person. Its use as a given name began in the early 2000s, reflecting a trend of adopting abstract and meaningful nouns as personal names in the United States.
Where Soul is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Soul” around the world
Where Soul lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
New Zealand
12
babies in 2025
Sources: NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand).
Sibling names for Soul
Names that share Soul's style, for a brother or sister.
