Socorro
Primarily a girl's name of Spanish origin with 6,903 recorded births. Also given to 549 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A city, the county seat of Socorro County, New Mexico, United States.
Socorro is a girl's and boy's baby name of Spanish origin, from the Spanish socorro meaning 'help' or 'aid' — from the Latin succurrere (to run to help, to rescue), used as a Marian title for the Virgin Mary as 'Our Lady of Help.'
'Nuestra Señora del Socorro' (Our Lady of Perpetual Help) is one of the most beloved Marian titles in Latin American Catholicism. To name a daughter Socorro is to invoke the Virgin's protective care over her life. With nearly 7,000 recorded U.S. births, this beautiful Spanish name has significant presence in Mexican American and broader Latino communities.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Socorro is rooted in the Spanish tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1913 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
With 6,903 recorded U.S. births, Socorro has clearly resonated across communities. Names that reach this level of adoption typically carry a sound that works in multiple accents and cultural contexts — a kind of phonetic universality.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Socorro was #6460 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #11975, but its charm endures.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 43 | #12558 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 86 | #12559 | ▼ |
| 2000s | 212 | #6593 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 428 | #2979 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 536 | #2133 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 617 | #1622 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 715 | #1337 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 934 | #1031 | — |
| 1940s | 945 | #821 | — |
| 1930s | 1,003 | #681 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 1,201 | #677 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 183 | #1755 | — |
The Story of Socorro
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1929, Socorro is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Socorro are most likely born between 1919 and 1939.
How rare is Socorro?
Only about 1 in every 450,000 babies born in 2024 was named Socorro — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1913, peaked in the 1920s with 1,201 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Socorro by the numbers
- Would fill 144 school buses
- Meeting one Socorro per day would take 18.9 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(112 years, 1913–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 8 | #11975 |
| 2023 | 6 | #14928 |
| 2022 | 9 | #11124 |
| 2021 | 15 | #7579 |
| 2020 | 5 | #17183 |
| 2019 | 10 | #10384 |
| 2018 | 7 | #13623 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13918 |
| 2016 | 6 | #15989 |
| 2015 | 8 | #12862 |
| 2014 | 10 | #10847 |
| 2013 | 7 | #14402 |
| 2012 | 8 | #13315 |
| 2011 | 10 | #11089 |
| 2010 | 13 | #9162 |
| 2009 | 11 | #10580 |
| 2008 | 15 | #8472 |
| 2007 | 15 | #8464 |
| 2006 | 16 | #7815 |
| 2005 | 24 | #5413 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Socorro as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Socorro has also been given to 549 boys in the U.S. since 1919.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Socorro a boy's or girl's name?
When was Socorro most popular?
How popular is the name Socorro?
Can Socorro be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1913–2024