This name was taken from the Rio Grande or Sonsonate in the Nahuat language, which crosses it from north to south across the entire plain until it flows into the Pacific Ocean.

On the other hand, one of the main cultural attractions of this city is the celebration of Holy Week, which is considered part of the religious heritage of the country, thus recognized by decree of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador since 2013.

[3][4] In the first historical reports on Sonsonate, reference was made to the fact that the city had taken the name of the Sensunat river, which was interpreted as "four hundred waters".

For Santiago I. Barberena, the word is of Nahuat origin where Sentzunti means four hundred and At is water having its place name: Sentzunhat.

[7] Today, tobacco farming, cattle ranching and tourism (volcanos, coral reef) are important industries.