Soniyah first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Soniyah has been for the last 18 years (from 2003 to 2020) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Soniyah

A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "splendid" or "brilliant".

Popularity of Soniyah by gender

Based on the last 18 years of data, Soniyah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2020, there were 6 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Soniyah.

Year Male Count Female Count
2020 0 6
2019 0 7
2018 0 8
2017 0 8
2016 0 5
2015 0 9
2013 0 6
2012 0 8
2011 0 7
2010 0 8
2009 0 7
2008 0 7
2007 0 7
2006 0 9
2005 0 5
2003 0 5

The history of the first name Soniyah

The name Soniyah is an Arabic feminine name with roots in the ancient Middle Eastern region. It is derived from the Arabic word "sana" or "saniya," which means "brilliant" or "shining." The name is believed to have originated in the 7th century during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Soniyah can be found in the writings of renowned Arab poet and scholar Al-Jahiz, who lived in the 9th century. In his work, he mentioned a woman named Soniyah, who was said to be a brilliant scholar and teacher.

The name Soniyah gained popularity among Arab nobility and scholars during the Golden Age of Islam, which spanned from the 8th to the 13th century. During this period, several notable figures bore the name Soniyah, including Soniyah bint Al-Husayn, a 10th-century princess and poet from the Abbasid Caliphate, and Soniyah Al-Arjawaniyah, a 12th-century scholar and writer from Andalusia.

As Islam and Arabic culture spread across various regions, the name Soniyah also found its way into other cultures and languages. In the 13th century, there was a Persian poetess named Soniyah Majd al-Din, who was renowned for her mastery of the Persian language and her contributions to the literary arts.

Another notable figure with the name Soniyah was Soniyah Hamdani, a 16th-century Moroccan scholar and author who wrote extensively on Islamic jurisprudence and theology. Her works were widely read and influenced the intellectual discourse of her time.

In the 19th century, there was a prominent Egyptian writer and feminist named Soniyah Al-Saadawi, who was known for her advocacy of women's rights and her critical analysis of patriarchal systems in Arab societies.

While the name Soniyah has its roots in the Arabic language and Islamic culture, it has also been adopted and adapted by various other cultures and languages over the centuries. Its meaning and significance as a name that symbolizes brilliance and radiance have endured throughout history.

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 Soniyah was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Soniyah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on June 17, 2025. http://namecensus.com/first-names/soniyah-meaning-and-history/.

"Soniyah first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/soniyah-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 17 June, 2025

Soniyah first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/soniyah-meaning-and-history/.

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