Given name & surname
Sonia
“having great wisdom and foresight”
Sonia is a variant of Sophie. One Greek interpretation is “having great wisdom and foresight.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Sonia is a variant of Sophie. One Greek interpretation is “having great wisdom and foresight.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Sonia is a variant of Sophie. An origin associated with Sophie is French.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Sonia is an affectionate form of София.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1895. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Sonia through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 67,026
- 279 boys · 66,747 girls
- Most popular year
- 1970
- 1,777 babies
- 2025
- 171
- #1,307 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −23%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 171 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,307 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 23.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 1,767 in 1970. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (29). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 113,726 as a first name in 2020; 489 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Sonia’s family of names
In English usage, Sonia has a diminutive in Sonny. In English usage, Sonia has a related form in Sonya. In French usage, Sonia has a conventional equivalent in the English form Sonya.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Sonia has relatives in 14 languages.
13 related names in 14 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 3
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 11
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- SanjaDanish
- સોનિયાequivalent
- సోనియాequivalent
- СоняRussian
- ΣόνιαGreek
- SoňaCzech
- Соњаequivalent
- SzonjaHungarian
Show 3 moreShow fewer
People named Sonia
- Sonia GandhiIndian politicianborn 1946
- Sonia SotomayorUS Supreme Court justice since 2009born 1954
- Sonia DelaunayFrench painter (1885–1979)
- Sônia BragaBrazilian-American actressborn 1950
- Sonia RykielFrench fashion designer (1930-2016)
- Sonia O'SullivanIrish long and middle-distance runnerborn 1969
- Sonia BompastorFrench football manager (born 1980)
- Sonia RollandFrench actressborn 1981
- SoniaBritish singer (born 1971)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Sonia, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
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“one who is lame” · “one who counsels the elves”
>99% girls