What does Sota mean?
Sota often joins the kanji for “sudden, gallant” with “thick” or “big.”
What does Yuto mean?
Yuto commonly joins kanji for “distant, permanent” or “gentle” with “person” or “the Big Dipper.”
Sota vs Yuto
Which is more popular?
Sota is more popular than Yuto today: about 15 US babies were given the name Sota in 2025, compared with 6 named Yuto.
| Sota | Yuto | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Gallant, big | Distant; person |
| Origin | Japanese | Japanese |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | SOH-tah | YOO-toh |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1997 | 1989 |
| Peak year | 2015 (22) | 2012 (22) |
| In 2025 | 15 | 6 |
| Trend | Steady | Declining |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sota
Yuto
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sota | Yuto |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 55 | 64 |
| 2010s | 110 | 152 |
| 2000s | 38 | 128 |
| 1990s | 11 | 44 |
| 1980s | 0 | 5 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sota or Yuto more popular?
Sota is more popular than Yuto today: about 15 US babies were given the name Sota in 2025, compared with 6 named Yuto.
What is the difference between Sota and Yuto?
Sota means Gallant, big (Japanese origin), while Yuto means Distant; person (Japanese origin).
Which name is older, Sota or Yuto?
In US records, Sota first appears in 1997 and Yuto in 1989, so Yuto has the longer recorded history.