The name "So" is of Korean origin and has a rich history behind it. It is composed of two characters: "소" which means "small" or "lesser", and "하" which means "river". Thus, the meaning of the name So is "small river".
According to Korean naming tradition, names are typically composed of one syllable for males and two syllables for females. Therefore, So is a unisex name in Korea. However, it is more commonly used for girls.
The name So has been popular in Korea throughout history, with notable figures bearing this name. For instance, there was a queen named So in the ancient Korean kingdom of Silla. She was known for her intelligence and political acumen, and played a significant role in the unification of Korea during her reign.
In modern times, the name So continues to be popular among Koreans and has gained international recognition through famous figures such as So Ji-sub, a South Korean actor and model, and So Yoo-jin, a South Korean actress. Despite its simple meaning, the name So holds significant historical and cultural importance in Korea.
Statistics show that the name So has seen varying popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1979 and 1993, there were a total of 47 babies born with this name each year. The most popular year for the name So was 1993, with 8 births recorded that year. On the other hand, the least popular years were 1982 and 1990, both of which had only 5 births. Interestingly, there were also periods where the popularity seemed to fluctuate slightly, such as between 1979 and 1989, with numbers ranging from 6 to 7 births per year. Overall, while not extremely common, the name So has maintained a consistent presence among newborns in the United States during this time period.