Soter derives from the Greek epithet σωτήρ (sōtēr), meaning a saviour, a deliverer; initial capitalised Σωτήρ; fully capitalised ΣΩΤΗΡ; feminine Soteira (Σώτειρα) or sometimes Soteria (Σωτηρία).

"Soter" was used as:

• a title of gods: Poseidon Soter, Zeus Soter, Dionysus Soter, Apollo Soter, Hades Soter, Helios Soter, Athena Soteira, Asclepius Soter, and Hecate Soteira.
• the name of a distinct mythical figure, Soter (daimon)
• an epithet of several heroized or deified leaders of Hellenistic dynasties, see Hellenistic ruler cult:
  • Antigonus Monophthalmus (382 to 301 BCE), awarded the title for liberating Athens from Cassander
  • Ptolemy I Soter of Egypt (reigned 323-283 BCE)
  • Antiochus I Soter of the Seleucid Empire (reigned 281-261 BCE)
  • Demetrius I Soter of the Seleucid Empire (reigned 161-150 BCE)
  • Diomedes Soter
  • Dionysios Soter
  • Polyxenos Epiphanes Soter
  • Rabbel II Soter
  • Attalus I
  • Seleucus III Ceraunus
  • Ptolemy IX (died 81 BCE), twice king of Ptolemaic Egypt
  • Diodotus I
  • Strato II
  • Strato I
  • Menander I (died 130 BCE), Greco-Bactrian and Indo-Greek king
• a title of liberators (see also eleutherios (disambiguation)
• a title of Jesus of Nazareth, which came into use some time after the death of Paul the Apostle, most particularly in the fish acronym
• the term "God our Saviour" (Greek: θεῷ σωτῆρι ἡμῶν, dative) occurs several times in the New Testament, in the Epistle of Jude, 1 Timothy and Titus.
• Pope Soter, r. ca. 167 – 174.