---
id: soundex
version: "1.1.3"
license: LGPL-2.1+
license_treatment: copyleft
maintenance: abandoned
---

# soundex — Soundex algorith implementation for English and Indian languages

License: copyleft · Maintenance: abandoned · Downloads: 85.1K/mo

## What it is and what it does

Soundex is a phonetic algorithm that converts names into codes based on how they sound when pronounced in English. This package provides both the standard Soundex algorithm and a modified version designed for Indian languages. It's useful when you need to match or index names that may be spelled differently but sound similar.

The package has no external runtime dependencies, making it lightweight to install. However, it has been abandoned since 2014 with no updates for over a decade. The Python version compatibility is unspecified, and the source-only distribution format means you'll need a build environment. Before using in production, verify that it works with your target Python version.

Use it for:

- Deduplicating contact lists or databases where names may be spelled phonetically differently
- Building a phonetic search index for name lookups in English-language applications
- Matching Indian language names phonetically when exact spelling is unavailable
- Implementing fuzzy name matching in data integration or ETL pipelines
- Creating a phonetic autocomplete or suggestion system for name fields

## Worth the install?

AI-flagged interpretation of the facts above — verify before relying.

Implements the Soundex phonetic algorithm for indexing names by sound in English, plus a modified version for Indian languages.

No, unless you have a specific legacy requirement. The package is abandoned (last update 2014), Python compatibility is unspecified, and high install friction from source distribution makes it risky for new projects. Modern alternatives or maintained phonetic libraries are strongly preferred for any new development.

## Install

pip install soundex
uv add soundex
poetry add soundex

## Installing soundex

Before you install: High install friction due to source distribution format. Package is abandoned—last commit was 2019-02-09 and no releases since 2014-06-01. No runtime dependencies, but the long dormancy means compatibility with modern Python versions is unverified.

License in practice: Licensed under LGPL-2.1+, a copyleft license. Any derivative work or modification must be distributed under the same or compatible terms; proprietary use requires careful review of your distribution model.

Quickstart:

pip install soundex
import soundex
code = soundex.soundex('Smith')

Package is abandoned and Python version compatibility is unspecified; test thoroughly before production use.

Verify before relying:

- Whether the package works with Python 3.x versions (Python support is unspecified in metadata)
- Whether the modified Indian language algorithm is well-tested or documented
- Whether the source distribution builds without errors on modern systems

## Package facts

- License: LGPL-2.1+ (copyleft)
- Python support: unspecified
- Install friction: high
- Maintenance: abandoned
- Downloads: 85.1K/month (top 15,000 on PyPI)
- Known vulnerabilities: none known

## Tags

phonetic name matching, soundex algorithm, name indexing by sound, phonetic search, indian language phonetics, english name pronunciation, fuzzy name matching, phonetic-algorithm, abandoned, name-matching

[View on SkillFed](https://skillfed.io/packages/soundex) · [View on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/soundex/)