Sofija
Of Greek origin, meaning "wisdom".
Name Census estimates that about 351 living Americans carry the first name Sofija. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sofija today is around 13 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sofija births was 2019 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sofija. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
351
~ 1 in 976,508 Americans
Peak year
2019
22 babies that year
Average age
13
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,868
Tracked since 1999
Popularity
Sofija: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sofija from the 1990s through to the 2020s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 166 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Sofija remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sofija by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Sofija during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sofijas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sofija
Sofija is a feminine given name with its origins rooted in the Greek language. The name is derived from the word "sophia," which translates to "wisdom" in English. It is believed to have first emerged during the classical period of ancient Greece, when the concept of wisdom and knowledge was highly revered.
The name Sofija gained prominence in the Byzantine Empire, where it was embraced by the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition. It was often bestowed upon girls born into noble or religious families, symbolizing the desire for them to grow up possessing wisdom and virtue.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sofija can be found in the Hagia Sophia, the famed cathedral in Istanbul, which was initially constructed in the 6th century AD. The name was likely chosen for the church to represent the divine wisdom and knowledge associated with the Christian faith.
Throughout the Middle Ages, the name Sofija was popular across Eastern Europe, particularly in regions with strong Orthodox Christian influences, such as Russia, Bulgaria, and Serbia. Some notable historical figures bearing the name include Saint Sofija of Suzdal (born around 1140), a Russian princess renowned for her piety and charitable works.
During the Renaissance period, the name Sofija experienced a resurgence in popularity, especially among the intellectual and artistic circles of Italy. One of the most famous bearers of the name was Sofonisba Anguissola (1532-1625), an Italian Renaissance painter celebrated for her innovative self-portraits and her role in promoting the acceptance of women in the arts.
In the 18th century, the name Sofija gained recognition in the literary world with the works of the Russian writer Sofija Khvoshchinskaya (1824-1865), who wrote under the pen name Ivan Veselovsky. Her novels and short stories explored the social and political issues of her time, earning her a place among the most influential Russian authors of the 19th century.
Another notable figure was Princess Sofija of Prussia (1870-1932), who married the Greek prince and later King Constantine I. As the Queen of Greece, she played a significant role in shaping the country's cultural and social landscape during the early 20th century.
Throughout history, the name Sofija has been associated with wisdom, intellect, and artistic expression, reflecting the various cultural and linguistic influences that have shaped its meaning and popularity over the centuries.
People
Sofija + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sofija as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with S
Other first names starting with S with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Sofija: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sofija?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 351 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sofija going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 976,508 US residents.
Is Sofija a common name?
We classify Sofija as "Very Rare". It ranks above 80.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 354 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sofija most popular?
The single biggest year for Sofija was 2019, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sofija is about 13 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sofija a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sofija in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.