Fun Facts About the Name Sofya
- 286 babies named Sofya: U.S. records list 286 babies given the name Sofya from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Sofya Mean?
Sofya means "wisdom." It is a Latin-alphabet form of the Russian name Софья (Sof'ya), which comes from the Greek name Sophia (Σοφία). The Greek source is the noun sophia, meaning "wisdom," "skill," or "cleverness"; the personal name uses that noun directly. The Russian form entered through Orthodox Christian usage, and the spelling Sofya represents Russian pronunciation rather than a separate etymology. Later Christian writers sometimes treated the name as a symbol of divine wisdom, but that is a theological association, not a different literal meaning. Other transliterations of the same Russian name include Sofia and Sofiia, and the Greek and Latin parent name is also used independently.
Sofya Name History & Origins
The name's Greek ancestor, Sophia, is formed from sophia, the ordinary Greek noun for wisdom. Early Christians used it as a personal name, and the phrase Hagia Sophia ("Holy Wisdom") was applied to churches, most famously the great church in Constantinople completed in the sixth century. Through Byzantine Christianity the name entered Slavic languages. In Russian it took the forms София (Sofiya) and Софья (Sof'ya); the second form has a palatalized final consonant and a final -ya sound. The transliteration Sofya represents that Russian form.
Russian historical bearers include Sofia Alekseyevna, daughter of Tsar Alexis and regent of Russia from 1682 to 1689. The Russian Orthodox calendar includes Saint Sophia, venerated in traditional accounts with her daughters Faith, Hope, and Love. The spelling Sofya is not a separate name with its own origin but one of several Latin-alphabet renderings of the Russian name, alongside Sofia and Sofiia.
How Popular is the Name Sofya?
Sofya has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2011. Its best rank was #5,908 in 2011.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,801 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #10,943 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #11,047 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 2022 | #7,247 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #8,398 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2020 | #17,186 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2019 | #13,614 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #15,422 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2017 | #11,497 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2016 | #10,751 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2015 | #10,064 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #5,971 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #7,701 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 2012 | #9,644 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2011 | #5,908 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2010 | #8,643 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2009 | #8,410 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2008 | #8,904 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2007 | #8,043 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 2006 | #13,460 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #11,719 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #10,579 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #13,653 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #13,431 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2001 | #15,091 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
Explore More Lists with Name Sofya
Most Popular Girl Names That Start with S
Unique Short Girl Names That Start with S
How the Name Sofya Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are spiritually intense and can sting or charm. Your name brings love and new starts into life and attracts money. In business, you are the creator and promoter of original ideas and usually enjoy considerable financial success. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
Creative and outgoing, you are always looking for an opportunity to show your abilities, especially before audience. You are very flexible and like to feel appreciated. You are looking for chances to mix with others socially and to communicate your ideas. You like to talk and can easily relate to different cultures and concepts. The biggest challenge for you is uncertainty. Easily getting bored, you can move from one job to another, switch projects and lovers. The high creative force can lead you either to happiness or unhappiness. If you understand your goals, if you can make major decisions in life and follow it directly and straight up without worry and uncertainty, you are able to achieve great heights.
✦ Sofya's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Sofya's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.