The term makes reference to the concept of the Soul and carries certain New Age overtones. There is a prevalent concept in some segments of the New Age movement that some souls are literally made and/or fated to be the mates of each other, or to play certain other important roles in each others' lives.
A related concept is that of the twin flame or twin soul - thought to be the ultimate soulmate, the one and only other half of one's soul, which all souls are driven to find and unite with.
However, not everyone who uses these terms intends them to carry such mystical connotations; they are sometimes used simply as an expression of strong emotional feeling for someone.
Spiritual and religious - concepts of Reincarnation and Karma. Soulmates have spent many previous lifetimes together.
Companion soulmate - People with whom one has made a connection.
Twin soulmates - Very close friends with whom one has strong bonds.
Twin flame soulmate - A popular romantic belief that there is only one true soulmate.
Modern Soulmate Theory - explaining soulmates using probabilities.
Soulmate Calculator - A tool using population statistics to find out the number of American singles one has to meet to find a soulmate.
Two souls (Timothy Hutton and Kelly McGillis) marry in Heaven but are soon separated when one is born on Earth. The other follows and has to reunite with the other before time runs out or endure eternal soul-searching.
Chris Nielson (Robin Williams) meets his true soulmate Annie (Annabella Sciorra). He dies in an accident and goes to Heaven and she later commits suicide. Can he find his soulmate in Hell and save her? Alternate ending in DVD also deals with soulmate searching.