UK name, mostly girls
Soma
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin representing the moon and a plant intoxicant.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2021. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 18 boys.
Soma is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Soma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2021 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4634, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 9 births.
This profile covers 61 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2001 to 2021. 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.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 61 living people in the UK are called Soma. 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 2022 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Soma ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales in 2021, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 9 girls were registered as Soma.
- • Soma is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 61 living people in the UK are estimated to have Soma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 77.2% of Soma registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4634
2021
Births in 2021
4
Latest year
Peak year
2010
9 births
Estimated living
61
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Soma
In England and Wales birth records, Soma has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 22.8% of registrations are for boys and 77.2% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Soma registered for boys
- Ranked #5,119 in 2024
- 3 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2008 (4 births)
Soma registered for girls
- Ranked #4,634 in 2021
- 4 girls registered in 2021
- Peak: 2010 (9 births)
Meaning
What does Soma mean?
The name Soma has its origins in Sanskrit, one of the oldest known Indo-Aryan languages. It dates back to the Vedic period of ancient India, around 1500-500 BCE. The word "soma" in Sanskrit refers to a sacred, psychoactive plant and ritual drink made from its juice, which was consumed by ancient Vedic priests during religious ceremonies.
Soma is mentioned extensively in the Rigveda, one of the four principal sacred texts of Hinduism. It is revered as a divine plant and personified as a deity in many hymns. The Soma rituals and the associated mythology played a crucial role in early Vedic religion and culture.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Soma was Soma Rishika, a legendary rishi (sage) who is credited with composing several hymns in the Rigveda, praising the sacred Soma plant. He is believed to have lived around 1500-1200 BCE.
In ancient Greek mythology, there is a character named Somadeva, who is mentioned in the epic Mahabharata as a king of the Kuru dynasty. He is said to have reigned during the 9th century BCE.
Another notable figure from history with the name Soma was Soma Siddhantin, an Indian astronomer and mathematician who lived in the 5th century CE. He is known for his contributions to the field of astronomy and for his works on the Siddhantas, which were astronomical treatises.
In the realm of literature, Soma Vamsi (1638-1717) was a renowned Telugu poet and scholar from the Madurai Nayak dynasty. He is best known for his poetic works, including the Ramayana Kalpavruksham, a retelling of the Indian epic Ramayana.
Moving forward in history, Soma Chandra Deb (1828-1892) was a prominent Bengali writer, journalist, and social reformer from British India. He played a significant role in the Bengal Renaissance and advocated for women's education and social reforms.
These are just a few examples of historical figures who bore the name Soma, reflecting its deep roots and significance within various cultural and intellectual spheres of ancient and medieval India, as well as its presence in other regions influenced by Sanskrit and Indian civilization.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Soma over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Soma in England and Wales, from 2001 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Soma, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2021, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Soma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Soma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4634 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4713 | 31 | 7 |
| 2000s | #3594 | 26 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Soma
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Soma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Soma in the UK right now?
In 2021, Soma was ranked #4634 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Soma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 9 babies registered as Soma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Soma?
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin representing the moon and a plant intoxicant.
How many people are called Soma in the UK?
A total of 61 babies have been registered as Soma across the 13 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.