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Soundex Generator: Phonetic Codes for Names

This free tool turns names and words into their four-character Soundex code, a classic way to match names that sound alike but are spelled differently. Enter one name per line.

By Debmedia Technologies LLP · Kolkata, India · Updated

What Is It and When Do You Need It?

Soundex lets you find names that sound the same. Genealogists, record keepers and database engineers use it to match Smith with Smyth.

Type one or more names, one per line.

How to Use This Tool

  1. Enter or paste your input in the box or boxes above.
  2. Choose the options, if there are any.
  3. Press the button to run the tool.
  4. Read the result and use the copy button where one is shown.

How the Calculation Works

Letters are grouped by sound: B F P V as 1, C G J K Q S X Z as 2, D T as 3, L as 4, M N as 5 and R as 6. The first letter is kept, the rest are replaced by digits, repeated digits are merged, letters A E I O U Y H W are dropped (H and W do not break a repeat) and the code is cut or padded to four characters.

Worked Example

Robert and Rupert both give R163. Tymczak gives T522 and Pfister gives P236.

Common Uses

  • Matching names in a database.
  • Family history research.
  • Spell tolerant search.
  • Teaching phonetic algorithms.

Tips and Common Mistakes

  • Use only letters; digits and symbols are ignored.
  • Two names with the same code are only likely matches, not certain ones.
  • Check short names, which often share codes.
  • Check the first result against a case you already know, so you can trust the tool for the rest.
  • Nothing you type leaves your device. The work is done by your browser, so it also works with a slow connection once the page has loaded.

Next, you may need the string distance calculator, anagram checker, character counter, text repeater.

Everything runs in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded, stored or sent to any outside service.

Frequently Asked Questions

A phonetic algorithm from 1918 that gives a name a code made of its first letter and three digits. Similar-sounding English names get the same code.
Keep the first letter, replace the other letters with digits by sound group, drop vowels, collapse repeats and pad with zeros to four characters.
It was built for English names. Results for other languages are rough.
No. Metaphone is a newer, more precise method. Soundex is simpler and widely used in databases.

Disclaimer: results are calculated in your browser from the numbers you enter. Check important results before you rely on them for money, health, safety or legal decisions.