Souta
A masculine Japanese name meaning "soaring philosopher" or "respected philosopher".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Souta. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Souta today is around 11 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Souta births was 2015 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Souta. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Souta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
2015
5 babies that year
Average age
11
years old
2015 SSA rank
#13,773
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Souta: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Souta 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 Souta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Souta
The name Souta originates from the Japanese language and culture. It is believed to have derived from the Sanskrit word "sudha," which means "nectar" or "ambrosia." The name's roots can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures, where it was often associated with divine beings and deities.
In Japanese culture, the name Souta has been used for centuries, with records dating back to the Heian period (794-1185 CE). During this time, the name was popular among the aristocratic classes and was often given to sons of noble families. The name's association with nectar and divine qualities made it a desirable choice for parents seeking auspicious names for their children.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Souta was a Japanese Buddhist monk who lived during the Kamakura period (1185-1333 CE). This monk, known as Souta Zen'itsu, was renowned for his teachings and contributions to the development of Zen Buddhism in Japan.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Souta. In the 16th century, Souta Nobunaga was a prominent samurai and military commander who served under the famous warlord Oda Nobunaga. Another notable Souta was Souta Hirofumi, a politician and statesman who served as the Prime Minister of Japan from 1888 to 1889.
In the realm of literature, Souta Sakurai was a celebrated Japanese novelist and poet who lived during the Meiji period (1868-1912). His works explored themes of love, nature, and the human condition, and he is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers of his time.
Moving into the modern era, Souta Fujii was a Japanese baseball player who played for the Yomiuri Giants in the Nippon Professional Baseball league. He was born in 1947 and is remembered for his exceptional skills as a pitcher and his contributions to the team's success during his career.
While the name Souta has its roots in ancient Japanese culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and gained popularity in other parts of the world. The name's association with divine qualities and its melodic sound have made it an attractive choice for parents seeking unique and meaningful names for their children.
People
Souta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Souta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Souta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Souta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Souta 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 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Souta a common name?
We classify Souta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Souta most popular?
The single biggest year for Souta was 2015, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Souta is about 11 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Souta in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Souta a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Souta 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.
Is Souta still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Souta in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Souta can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Souta as a first name?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.