The name Sonja is a feminine given name of Scandinavian origin, derived from the Old Norse name Sóndís or Sunniva. It is composed of two elements: "sōn" meaning "sun" and "dís" meaning "goddess" or "lady." The name was initially used in Norway and Sweden during the Viking era, around the 8th to 11th centuries.

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was Sonja Kovalevskaya, a Russian mathematician and writer who lived from 1850 to 1891. She was the first woman to hold a university chair in modern Europe and made significant contributions to the fields of partial differential equations and mechanics.

Another notable figure was Sonja Henie, a Norwegian figure skater who lived from 1912 to 1969. She was a three-time Olympic champion and a ten-time world champion, and is often regarded as one of the greatest figure skaters of all time.

In the 20th century, the name gained popularity across Europe and North America. Sonja Delaunay, a Ukrainian-born French artist, is known for her significant contributions to the Orphism art movement. She lived from 1885 to 1979 and was the first living female artist to have a retrospective exhibition at the Louvre in 1964.

Sonja Zietlow is a German television presenter and actress born in 1968. She is best known for hosting the popular German reality show "Ich bin ein Star – Holt mich hier raus!" (I'm a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here!).

Sonja Sohn, an American actress and former police officer, was born in 1964. She is best known for her role as Detective Shakima "Kima" Greggs on the acclaimed HBO series "The Wire."

While the name Sonja has roots in Scandinavian culture, it has been embraced and used across various regions and cultures throughout history. Its meaning, derived from the sun and goddess elements, has contributed to its enduring popularity as a feminine given name.