Souleymane
A boy's name of Arabic origin with 427 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
At 10 letters and three syllables, Souleymane is a longer name that carries presence on a page and formality in full, while likely inviting a natural nickname in daily life. It has been used as a boy's name in the U.S. since 1995, with 427 total recorded births.
Currently ranked #4531, Souleymane is familiar enough that people will recognize it but not so common that your child shares it with three classmates.
In the most recent SSA release, Souleymane ranks #4531 among U.S. boy names — distinctive enough to stand out.
Souleymane is a boy's baby name of Arabic origin via West Africa, the West African French form of Suleiman — the Arabic form of Solomon, meaning 'peaceful' or 'man of peace.' In Islamic tradition, Sulayman (Solomon) is a prophet credited with wisdom and power over nature.
Souleymane is widely used across French-speaking West Africa — Senegal, Mali, Guinea — carrying both Islamic heritage and West African cultural identity.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Souleymane's final sounds are open, approachable — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. In English-language naming, masculine names frequently end on harder consonants or closed syllables, creating a sense of decisiveness and strength. Souleymane softens that pattern, giving it a more versatile feel.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Souleymane's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Souleymane climbed 2381 spots in the last 20 years — from #6912 to #4531.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 88 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 157 | — |
| 2000s | 158 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 24 | — |
The Story of Souleymane
A Gen Z name
Peaking in 2007, Souleymane is a name that defines a generation. Boys named Souleymane are most likely born between 1997 and 2017.
How rare is Souleymane?
Only about 1 in every 156,522 babies born in 2024 was named Souleymane — a truly uncommon choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1995, peaked in the 2000s with 158 births that decade, and remains solidly popular today.
Souleymane by the numbers
- Would fill 9 school buses
- Meeting one Souleymane per day would take 1.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(28 years, 1995–2024)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 23 | #4531 |
| 2023 | 21 | #4859 |
| 2022 | 16 | #5827 |
| 2021 | 13 | #6620 |
| 2020 | 15 | #5939 |
| 2019 | 20 | #4937 |
| 2018 | 13 | #6648 |
| 2017 | 17 | #5491 |
| 2016 | 14 | #6302 |
| 2015 | 10 | #7956 |
| 2014 | 16 | #5683 |
| 2013 | 12 | #6958 |
| 2012 | 17 | #5451 |
| 2011 | 18 | #5168 |
| 2010 | 20 | #4823 |
| 2009 | 20 | #4898 |
| 2008 | 15 | #6024 |
| 2007 | 25 | #4104 |
| 2006 | 19 | #4835 |
| 2005 | 11 | #7033 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Souleymane a boy's or girl's name?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1995–2024