Find out how popular the first name Sofonias has been for the last 1 years (from 2022 to 2022) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Sofonias by gender

Based on the last 1 years of data, Sofonias is exclusively a male name.

For the most recent data in 2022, there were 7 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Sofonias.

The history of the first name Sofonias

The given name Sofonias is a variant spelling of the Hebrew name Zephaniah, which is derived from the elements "tsaphan" meaning "to hide" or "to protect" and "Yah" referring to the Hebrew God Yahweh. It carries the meaning "the Lord has protected" or "hidden by the Lord." The name has its origins in ancient Hebrew culture and can be traced back to biblical times.

One of the earliest references to the name Sofonias comes from the Book of Zephaniah in the Hebrew Bible, which is attributed to the prophet Zephaniah who lived in the 7th century BC during the reign of King Josiah of Judah. The book contains prophecies and warnings about the day of the Lord's judgment.

Throughout history, there have been several notable figures who bore the name Sofonias or its variants. One of the earliest known was Sofonias, a 4th-century bishop of Constantina (modern-day Constantine, Algeria) who attended the Council of Arles in 314 AD.

Another notable figure was Sofonias of Nicomedia, a 4th-century Christian martyr who was killed during the Diocletianic Persecution under the Roman Emperor Diocletian in around 303 AD.

In the 16th century, Sofonias Paleólogo was a Greek scholar and diplomat who served as the Greek ambassador to England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was born in 1520 and played a significant role in promoting Greek culture and language in Western Europe.

In the 19th century, Sofonias Ekonomu was a Greek Orthodox theologian and scholar born in 1772 in Epirus, Greece. He made significant contributions to the study of Greek Orthodox theology and was known for his translations of religious texts.

Lastly, Sofonias Monteiro was a Brazilian painter and illustrator who lived from 1858 to 1933. He was renowned for his realistic and naturalistic paintings, many of which depicted scenes from Brazilian history and daily life.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Sofonias was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sofonias, please contact us.

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