UK boy's name
Socrates
Derived from ancient Greek, meaning "sound mind" or "whole mind".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Socrates is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Socrates popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4749, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2018, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2018 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Socrates is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Socrates. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Socrates ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 3 boys were registered as Socrates.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Socrates as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4749
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2018
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Socrates mean?
The name Socrates is of Greek origin, derived from the combination of the Greek words "sōkratos" meaning "whole" or "unwounded" and "kratos" meaning "power" or "strength". It has its roots in ancient Athens, dating back to the 5th century BCE.
Socrates was the name of the famous classical Greek philosopher, born in 470 BCE in Athens. He is one of the founders of Western philosophy and is renowned for his contributions to ethics, epistemology, and logic. His teachings were preserved by his students, particularly Plato, in the form of dialogues, making him one of the most influential figures in the history of Western thought.
In ancient Greek literature, the name Socrates appears in various works, including Plato's dialogues, such as "The Republic" and "Apology", as well as in the writings of other ancient Greek philosophers and historians like Xenophon and Aristophanes. These works provide insights into the life and teachings of the philosopher Socrates, and the significance of his name in the context of his philosophical ideas.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Socrates, including:
1. Socrates of Constantinople (380-438 CE), a Christian scholar and ecclesiastical historian from Constantinople. 2. Socrates Scholasticus (fl. 5th century CE), a Byzantine Greek Christian church historian from Constantinople. 3. Socrates of Argos (2nd century BCE), a Greek sculptor and architect from Argos. 4. Socrates of Alexandria (3rd century CE), a Neoplatonic philosopher and teacher in Alexandria, Egypt. 5. Socrates Tzimiskes (920-976 CE), a Byzantine emperor who reigned from 976 to 976 CE.
The name Socrates has been widely recognized and celebrated for its association with the great philosopher, and it has endured as a symbol of wisdom, rationality, and ethical inquiry throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Socrates by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Socrates was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4749 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Socrates
- Samuel 108,505
- Sebastian 33,008
- Sam 20,889
- Stanley 16,354
- Sonny 15,028
- Sean 15,006
- Scott 12,587
- Seth 9,841
- Syed 9,050
- Stephen 8,884
- Spencer 8,333
- Steven 6,970
FAQ
Socrates: questions and answers
How popular is the name Socrates in the UK right now?
In 2018, Socrates was ranked #4749 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Socrates most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 3 babies registered as Socrates in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Socrates?
Derived from ancient Greek, meaning "sound mind" or "whole mind".
How many people are called Socrates in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Socrates across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.