Sopheap
Primarily a girl's name of Malay origin with 80 recorded births. Also given to 46 boys.
Meaning & Origin
Sopheap sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1981, peaking in 1986, with 80 total births across its history.
The sharp, distinct quality of its ending — ending on a consonant gives it a firm, clear close — keeps the name compact and easy to pair with longer middle names or surnames.
Sopheap is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Sopheap is a girl's and boy's baby name of Khmer origin, used in Cambodian communities, meaning 'good, virtuous, moral' — a name that expresses the hope that a daughter will grow to embody goodness and integrity.
Sopheap is a traditional Khmer name that reflects Cambodia's Buddhist values of virtue and right conduct. For families with Cambodian heritage, it is a name deeply rooted in cultural and spiritual identity.
EtymologyShow more
Sopheap appeared in SSA records in 1981, placing it in the modern era of American naming — a period when parents increasingly began breaking from generational naming patterns, experimenting with spelling, and treating naming as a form of creative self-expression. Its Malay roots may have been the starting point, adapted or respelled to fit contemporary American tastes.
With only 80 recorded births, Sopheap has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Sopheap has 10+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1981.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 10 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 70 | — |
The Story of Sopheap
A Millennial name
Peaking in 1986, Sopheap is a Millennial-era classic. Girls named Sopheap are most likely born between 1981 and 1992.
How rare is Sopheap?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Sopheap is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1981, peaked in the 1980s with 70 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Sopheap by the numbers
- Would fill 2 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(10 years, 1981–1992)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5 | #15277 |
| 1990 | 5 | #14963 |
| 1988 | 9 | #8309 |
| 1987 | 7 | #9686 |
| 1986 | 16 | #4935 |
| 1985 | 9 | #7479 |
| 1984 | 5 | #11938 |
| 1983 | 11 | #6165 |
| 1982 | 8 | #8121 |
| 1981 | 5 | #11938 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Sopheap as a Boy's Name
Though more common for girls, Sopheap has a notable history as a boy's name too, with 46 births since 1983.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sopheap a boy's or girl's name?
When was Sopheap most popular?
How popular is the name Sopheap?
Can Sopheap be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1981–1992