| Soma | Nirav | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Moon | Silent, calm, quiet |
| Origin | sanskrit | sanskrit |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | SOH-mah | NEE-ruhv |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 0 | 0 |
| Peak year | 2022 (14) | 1984 (21) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 0 |
| Trend | Rising | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Soma | Nirav |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 60 | 48 |
| 2010s | 68 | 120 |
| 2000s | 16 | 63 |
| 1990s | 0 | 63 |
| 1980s | 0 | 158 |
| 1970s | 0 | 94 |
Soma is a common alternate name of the Hindu moon god Chandra. Note: in the earliest Vedic texts Soma referred chiefly to a ritual plant and its drink; the lunar sense developed in post-Vedic mythology, so the moon meaning is deity-derived rather than primary.
From the Sanskrit निरव (nirava), 'soundless, still', formed from nir- ('without') + rava ('sound, noise') — hence tranquil stillness. A genuine, if less common, classical formation.
Soma and Nirav are given to a similar number of US babies today.
Soma means Moon (sanskrit origin), while Nirav means Silent, calm, quiet (sanskrit origin).
In US records, Soma first appears in 0 and Nirav in 0, so Soma has the longer recorded history.