Just because this one is more a result of where you grew up than a conscious linguistic choice doesn’t mean it hasn’t sparked many a debate.

Those of you in the Northeast, California, and most of Florida are more likely to call it soda, whereas pop is preferred in the Midwest and some of the West; adding a bit of chaos to the regional distinctions are our friends in the South, many of whom refer to any and all carbonated beverages as Coke even if they aren’t made by Coca-Cola. There are exceptions, of course, with many defying the circumstances of their locale by referring to soft drinks as the opposite of what their neighbors do — further proof that this is truly the land of the free.