Sonali
A feminine name of Sanskrit origin meaning "golden" or "beautifully golden".
Name Census estimates that about 1,300 living Americans carry the first name Sonali. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Sonali today is around 24 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sonali births was 2000 (60 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sonali. 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
1.3K
~ 1 in 263,657 Americans
Peak year
2000
60 babies that year
Average age
24
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,345
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Sonali: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Sonali from the 1970s through to the 2020s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2000s, with 410 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2000s peak, Sonali remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sonali 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 Sonali during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Sonalis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 6 states and territories. California, New York, New Jersey recorded the most babies named Sonali, while Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 59 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Sonali
The name Sonali has its origins in Sanskrit, an ancient Indo-Aryan language that has been a prominent linguistic force in the Indian subcontinent for over three millennia. The word "sonali" is derived from the Sanskrit term "sona," which translates to "gold." This etymology suggests that the name may have been initially bestowed upon individuals with a golden complexion or as a metaphorical reference to their perceived preciousness.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sonali can be traced back to ancient Hindu texts and scriptures. In the Rigveda, one of the oldest extant texts of Hinduism, there are references to the term "sonali" being used as an adjective to describe the radiant hue of the sun's rays.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sonali. One of the earliest recorded figures was Sonali Devi (c. 1420-1460), a renowned poet and mystic from the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent. Her compositions, which explored themes of devotion and spirituality, are still revered within certain literary circles.
In the 16th century, Sonali Bai (1504-1567) was a prominent courtesan and poet in the Mughal Empire. Her poetic works, which often celebrated love and beauty, were highly regarded during her lifetime and have been preserved in various anthologies.
Moving forward in time, Sonali Das (1808-1878) was a celebrated Bengali novelist and social reformer who used her literary works to advocate for women's rights and education. Her novel "Rohini Kulangini" is considered a groundbreaking work in the realm of Bengali literature.
In more recent history, Sonali Bendre (born 1975) is an acclaimed Indian actress who has appeared in numerous Bollywood films and television shows. She is also known for her philanthropic efforts, particularly in the realm of cancer awareness and support.
Sonali Kulkarni (born 1974) is another accomplished Indian actress who has made her mark in both Marathi and Hindi cinema. She has received numerous accolades for her performances, including several prestigious awards.
These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals who have carried the name Sonali throughout history. The name's rich linguistic heritage and its symbolic association with radiance and preciousness have made it a popular choice across various cultures and generations.
People
Sonali + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sonali 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
Sonali: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sonali?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,300 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sonali 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 263,657 US residents.
Is Sonali a common name?
We classify Sonali as "Rare". It ranks above 91.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,336 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sonali most popular?
The single biggest year for Sonali was 2000, when 60 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sonali is about 24 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Sonali a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Sonali 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.