Sulo
A Scandinavian name meaning "flame" or "blaze".
Name Census estimates that about 4 living Americans carry the first name Sulo. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Sulo today is around 120 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sulo births was 1918 (30 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sulo. 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
- • The typical person named Sulo is about 120 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Sulos were born before 1916.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sulo. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
4
~ 1 in 85,688,585 Americans
Peak year
1918
30 babies that year
Average age
120
years old
1927 SSA rank
#4,159
Tracked since 1911
Popularity
Sulo: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sulo from the 1910s through to the 1920s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1910s, with 151 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1910s peak, Sulo remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sulo 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 Sulo during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sulos live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. Michigan, Minnesota, Massachusetts recorded the most babies named Sulo, while Massachusetts, Minnesota, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 25 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sulo
The name Sulo has its origins in the Finnish language and culture, with roots dating back to the early modern era in the 16th and 17th centuries. It is derived from the Finnish word "sulo," which translates to "lovely" or "beautiful." The name's etymology suggests that it was initially given to individuals who were perceived as having a pleasant or attractive appearance or demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sulo can be found in the Finnish epic poem "Kalevala," which was first compiled and published in the 19th century. The poem contains references to characters with the name Sulo, indicating its usage among the Finnish people during the time when the oral traditions that inspired the work were being passed down.
Throughout history, the name Sulo has been borne by several notable individuals. One of the most prominent figures was Sulo Vilho Aarne Halonen (1884-1953), a Finnish painter and graphic artist who was renowned for his landscapes and depictions of Finnish rural life. His works are celebrated for capturing the essence of the Finnish countryside and its people.
Another individual of historical significance was Sulo Väänänen (1909-1968), a Finnish mathematician and academic. He made significant contributions to the field of number theory and was a professor at the University of Helsinki for many years.
In the realm of sports, Sulo Bärlund (1904-1985) was a Finnish athlete who excelled in the javelin throw. He won a silver medal in the 1928 Amsterdam Olympics and held the world record in his event for several years.
The name Sulo also has literary connections. Sulo Vuolijoki (1905-1973) was a Finnish author and playwright who wrote novels, plays, and short stories that explored themes of Finnish identity and the struggles of rural life.
Lastly, Sulo Soanjärvi (1915-1975) was a Finnish politician and member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland. He served as a member of the Finnish Parliament and held various leadership positions within the party during his political career.
These examples showcase the diverse fields and areas of influence in which individuals named Sulo have made their mark throughout history, from the arts and academia to sports and politics. While the name may have its roots in Finnish culture, its significance and impact have extended beyond its origins.
People
Sulo + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sulo 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
Sulo: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sulo?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 4 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sulo 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 85,688,585 US residents.
Is Sulo a common name?
We classify Sulo as "Very Rare". It ranks above 6.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 220 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sulo most popular?
The single biggest year for Sulo was 1918, when 30 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sulo is about 120 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 Sulo in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sulo a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sulo 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 Sulo still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sulo 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 Sulo 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 Americans are named Sulo?
See how many people share the name Sulo on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.