Sonja
Sonja is a girl's name of Slavic origin.
Meaning
Wisdom.
Origin and history
Sonja is a Scandinavian and Slavic diminutive of Sophia, which traces back to the ancient Greek word for wisdom. The name gained steady popularity in the United States during the mid-20th century and remains a recognizable, classic alternative to Sophia.
Popularity in the United States
39,513 babies in the United States have been named Sonja since 1880. It ranks #693 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1759.
States where it is most popular
- CA (10.3 %)
- TX (6.8 %)
- IL (5.3 %)
- NY (5.2 %)
- OH (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 6 |
| 1910-1920 | 89 |
| 1920-1930 | 231 |
| 1930-1940 | 3,143 |
| 1940-1950 | 5,081 |
| 1950-1960 | 4,619 |
| 1960-1970 | 10,962 |
| 1970-1980 | 7,962 |
| 1980-1990 | 3,240 |
| 1990-2000 | 1,695 |
| 2000-2010 | 1,187 |
| 2010-2019 | 956 |
| 2020-2029 | 342 |
Famous people named Sonja
- Sonja Henie: figure skater, actress
- Sonja Sohn: actress, director
Fun facts
- Sonja originated as a pet form of Sophia in Russian and Scandinavian traditions before becoming an independent given name.
- Norwegian figure skater Sonja Henie brought significant international visibility to the name in the 1930s.