Here’s the boring-but-true bit first: no, Soho is not an acronym. It doesn’t stand for “South of Holborn” or “Sexy, Obnoxious, Horny, and Open.” That’s a very popular myth, but it’s about as accurate as calling a kebab a health food. The real origin is hunting—specifically, an old English cry used by hunters centuries ago.
Back in the 1500s, “So-ho!” was what you shouted when you flushed a hare out of its hiding spot. It was like a medieval “Geronimo!” but for rabbits. That field eventually became a park, the park got houses, and the houses got crowds—and boom: your favorite place to get a dodgy cocktail was named after a bunny chase.
But Wait—Isn’t There a New York Soho, Too?
Yes, and it does stand for something. New York’s SoHo is short for “South of Houston Street.” That’s a real acronym, and it’s a boring, practical, American-engineering kind of name. London’s Soho, however, is a chaotic British mess of history. It’s like comparing a tailored tweed jacket to a shiny puffer vest.
So if you tell a New Yorker your London Soho is “just a hunting cry,” they’ll look at you like you’ve got a pheasant on your head. But don’t worry—you’re correct. You’re the fancy one.
