Unisex · #6,227 in 2026

Solstice

A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.

Current Rank
#6,227
Peak Rank
#6,227 (2026)
Total Babies
190
5-Yr Trend
+43%
👧 Girl peak #6,227 (190 total)
👦 Boy peak #7,764 (16 total)
👧As Girl Name
2005
First Year
2026
Last Year
2026
Peak Year
#6227
Peak Rank
190
Total Count
17
Years Active
👦As Boy Name
2018
First Year
2022
Last Year
2022
Peak Year
#7764
Peak Rank
16
Total Count
2
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Solstice

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Etymology
The word solstice is derived from the Latin sol ( ' sun ' ) and sistere ( ' to stand still ' ), because at the solstices, the Sun's declination appears to "stand still"; that is, the seasonal movement of the Sun's daily path (as seen from Earth ) reaches a northern or southern limit before reversing direction. Solstice first entered into English in the Middle English period. An older term in English is its calque sunstead ( Old English : sunstede ), which became rare after the 17th century. Sunstead is cognate with other terms with the same meaning in other Germanic language such as Old Norse

The Story of Solstice

As a girl name

Solstice first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a girl name in 2005, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2026, when 19 Solstices were born — ranking #6,227 that year. As of 2026, Solstice ranks #6,227 for girls with 19 births, rising sharply (+43% over the past five years). In total, more than 190 Solstices have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.

As a boy name

Solstice first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 2018, with 6 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2022, when 10 Solstices were born — ranking #7,764 that year. As of 2026, Solstice ranks #7,764 for boys with 10 births, with steady use. In total, more than 16 Solstices have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2010s through the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Girls Boys

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
SC
AK
AZ
NM
OK
LA
MS
AL
GA
HI
TX
FL
Top 10
11-50
51-100
101-500
500+
No data

Names that sound like Solstice

Phonetically similar names — useful when Solstice is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Saltus
  • Soltis
  • Celtis
  • Cystis
  • Celsius
  • Celcius
  • Celsus
  • Solidus
  • Cistus
  • Celtuce
  • Songstress
  • Salts

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Solstice

What does the name Solstice mean?
A solstice is the time when the Sun reaches its most northerly or southerly excursion relative to the celestial equator on the celestial sphere. Two solstices occur annually, around 20–22 June and 20–22 December. In many countries, the seasons of the year are defined by reference to the solstices and the equinoxes.
How popular is Solstice in 2026?
In 2026, Solstice ranks #6,227 among girls' names in the U.S., with 19 babies given the name that year.
When was Solstice most popular?
Solstice reached its peak popularity in 2026, ranking #6,227 that year with 19 babies given the name.
In which U.S. states is Solstice most popular?
Solstice has historically been most popular in California. Rankings vary year to year, but these states show the strongest concentration of births named Solstice.
Is Solstice a unisex name?
Yes — Solstice is used for both girls and boys in U.S. records, with about 92% of Solstices assigned female and 8% assigned male historically.
What names go well with Solstice?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Solstice include Karelyn, Eleanna, Quincee. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

About the name Solstice

Solstice is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2005 and has accumulated 190 births in the dataset. Solstice's peak popularity came in 2026 when it ranked #6,227. Use the chart and map above to compare Solstice's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.