Socrates

“power of the crowd”

Greece origin · Boy name

♂ 97% boys♀ 3% girls

#7688US 2022

11Births / yr

↑Rising

701All-time births

📅 Since 191400

How to pronounce Socrates

SAH·krut·eez

/ˈsɑ.krət.ˌiːz/ · stress on SAH · 3 syllables

“power of the crowd”

Greece origin · Boy name

What does Socrates mean and where does it come from?

Socrates (Σωκράτης) was an ancient Greek philosopher who is credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy. He is known for his contributions to ethics and epistemology, and he is famous for the Socratic method, a form of cooperative argumentative dialogue. The name Socrates was historically

Cultural significance

Socrates has been a cherished name across cultures, particularly in Greece-speaking communities, where it reflects values of power of the crowd.

Peak popularity

Reached #1994 in 1931 — currently #7688 in the US.

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What middle names flow best with Socrates?

Socrates works best with short, strong middle names — one or two syllables keep the full name from becoming a mouthful

Socrates Grace

How popular is Socrates right now?

Rising fast — up 1883 spots — currently #7688 in the US out of 135.5k tracked names

US Trend 1915–2022#7688 · Top 5.7%

1940

1965

1970

1975

1980

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2021

2022

Year	US Rank	Births	vs Prior Year
2022	#7688	11	▲ up 1883 · +38% births
2021	#9571	8	▲ up 2471 · +60% births
2020	#12042	5	▼ down 2383 · -29% births
2015	#9659	7	▲ up 1218 · +17% births
2010	#10877	6	▼ down 3152 · -33% births
2005	#7725	9	▼ down 2085 · -25% births
2000	#5640	12	▼ down 456 · +9% births
1995	#5184	11	▼ down 961 · -15% births
1990	#4223	13	▼ down 348 · +18% births
1985	#3875	11	▲ up 1808 · +83% births
1980	#5683	6	▼ down 1930 · -33% births
1975	#3753	9	▲ up 210 · +29% births
1970	#3963	7	▼ down 1080 · -22% births
1965	#2883	9	▲ up 462 · +50% births
1940	#3345	6	—

Name Popularity Timeline

Popularity Statistics for Socrates

Best Year1930Rank #2167

Peak Count14

Average Rank#5530

Current Trend↘Falling

Data Range1915 - 202220 years

The story of Socrates

Socrates entered American naming records in 1914 and has been in use for over 110 years. With 701 total births recorded, Socrates remains relatively uncommon. Once ranked #3307 in 1915, the name has become less common in recent years, sitting at #7688 in 2022.

Names that peaked alongside Socrates in 1931:

Robert James John William Richard

Socrates by decade

Socrates peaked in the 1930s. See all 1930s names →

Decade	Births
1910s	41
1920s	110
1930s	63
1940s	6
1950s	7
1960s	44
1970s	69
1980s	94
1990s ★	113
2000s	91
2010s	58
2020s	5

💎Socrates has only 701 total recorded births since 1914 — rarer than 99% of names in our database.

What are good nicknames for Socrates?

Common

SocSoAtes

What names sound and feel like Socrates?

Based on sound, origin, and style — parents who love Socrates also consider these

Sostenes

Greece · the one who

Orestes

Greece · mountain dweller

Orantes

Spain · One who prays

French · A French name

Cortes

Spain · Short

Horades

Hebrew · A Hebrew name

How is Socrates written in other languages?

Σωκρατης

Ancient Greek

Common questions about the name Socrates

What does the name Socrates mean?

Socrates means "power of the crowd" — a name rooted in Greece tradition that carries both historical depth and timeless appeal. The meaning reflects values that have made this name endure across generations.

How popular is the name Socrates?

Socrates is currently a distinctive and less common name as a boy name in the US and is rapidly gaining popularity — searches for Socrates have increased significantly in recent years.

What is the cultural origin of Socrates?

Socrates originates from Greece tradition. Greece names tend to carry strong cultural heritage and have spread across the world through migration, literature, and religion over centuries.

How do you pronounce the name Socrates?

Socrates is a three-syllable name pronounced S AA1 K R AH0 T IY2 Z. The pronunciation is straightforward for English speakers, and the name reads clearly on paper — an important practical consideration for parents.

What sibling names go well with Socrates?

Socrates pairs beautifully with sibling names that share a similar Greece heritage or complement its melodic and flowing sound. Names with a similar vibe create a cohesive sibling set without matching too closely.