Sophana
Of Cambodian origin, meaning "pure" or "virtuous".
Name Census estimates that about 18 living Americans carry the first name Sophana. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 73.7% of registrations being male. The average person named Sophana today is around 41 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Sophana births was 1985 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Sophana. 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.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Sophana. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
18
~ 1 in 19,041,908 Americans
Peak year
1985
7 babies that year
Average age
41
years old
1986 SSA rank
#5,846
Tracked since 1985
Gender
Gender distribution for Sophana
Sophana is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 19 total registrations, 14 (73.7%) were male and 5 (26.3%) were female.
Sophana as a male name
- Ranked #5,846 in 1986
- 7 male births in 1986
- Peak: 1985 (7 births)
Sophana as a female name
- Ranked #13,000 in 1987
- 5 female births in 1987
- Peak: 1987 (5 births)
Popularity
Sophana: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Sophana 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 Sophana during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 14 | 5 | 19 |
Geography
Where Sophanas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Sophana
The name Sophana has its origins in the Sanskrit language, which was the classical language of the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "saubhagya," which means "good fortune" or "auspiciousness." This name finds its roots in ancient Indian culture and has been widely used in various parts of the subcontinent for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sophana can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas, which date back to around 1500 BCE. In these texts, the name is mentioned in connection with rituals and ceremonies, reflecting its auspicious connotations. Additionally, the name appears in several ancient Sanskrit texts, such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, which are epic tales that have played a significant role in shaping Indian culture and tradition.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Sophana. One such person was Sophana Devi, a 16th-century queen of the Vijayanagara Empire in southern India. She was known for her patronage of the arts and her support for the construction of numerous temples and monuments.
Another prominent figure was Sophana Datta, a renowned Bengali poet and playwright who lived during the 19th century (1824-1886). His works were influential in shaping the literary landscape of Bengal and contributed to the revival of the Bengali language and culture.
In the realm of spirituality, Sophana Anandamayi Ma (1896-1982) was a highly revered Indian saint and mystic who gained a widespread following both in India and abroad. She was renowned for her teachings on self-realization and was regarded as a living embodiment of divine love and compassion.
Moving to more recent times, Sophana Tsing (1914-2003) was a influential Chinese-American author and translator. She played a pivotal role in introducing Chinese literature and culture to Western audiences through her translations of classic Chinese texts.
Lastly, Sophana Devi (1912-1988) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer who made significant contributions to the revival and promotion of the Odissi dance form. Her performances and teachings helped to preserve and promote this ancient dance tradition, earning her numerous accolades and awards.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have borne the name Sophana throughout history, each leaving an indelible mark in their respective fields and contributing to the rich tapestry of human culture and achievement.
People
Sophana + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Sophana 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
Sophana: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Sophana?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 18 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Sophana 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 19,041,908 US residents.
Is Sophana a common name?
We classify Sophana as "Very Rare". It ranks above 38.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 19 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Sophana most popular?
The single biggest year for Sophana was 1985, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Sophana is about 41 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Sophana in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Sophana a male name?
Yes, 73.7% of people registered as Sophana in the SSA data are male. 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.
Is Sophana still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Sophana in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Sophana can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
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.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Sophana?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.