South
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Meaning & Origin of South
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
South is one of the cardinal directions or compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Etymology
The Story of South
South first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1927, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1927, when 5 Souths were born — ranking #4,210 that year. As of 2026, South ranks #4,210 for baby boys with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 5 Souths have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like South
Phonetically similar names — useful when South is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about South
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About the name South
South is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1927 and has accumulated 5 births in the dataset. South's peak popularity came in 1927 when it ranked #4,210. Use the chart and map above to compare South's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1927 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "S" →
- Browse all boy names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.