Sophie first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Sophie has been for the last 50 years (from 1975 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Sophie

A feminine given name of Greek origin meaning "wisdom".

Popularity of Sophie by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Sophie is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Sophie being female.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 3,574 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Sophie.

YearMale CountFemale Count
202403,574
202363,578
202203,512
202103,325
202003,311
201903,181
201802,946
201702,835
201602,875
201502,947
201403,391
201303,752
201254,579
201194,732
201064,415
200904,266
200804,064
200793,988
200602,784
200502,440
200472,388
200302,231
200202,245
200102,173
200002,101
199901,685
199801,216
199701,081
19960854
19950696
19940601
19930551
19920512
19910421
19900373
19897334
19880251
19870238
19860212
19850208
19840159
19830135
1982092
1981072
1980077
1979074
1978074
1977083
1976060
1975074

The history of the first name Sophie

The name Sophie originated from the Greek language and culture, with its roots dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Greek word "sophia," which means wisdom or knowledge. The name has been in use since the 5th century BC, with its earliest known reference found in Ancient Greek literature.

Sophie was a popular name among the ancient Greeks, and it was often associated with the concept of wisdom and learning. In Greek mythology, Sophia was one of the personifications of wisdom, along with other figures like Athena and Metis.

As Christianity spread throughout the ancient world, the name Sophie gained additional significance. It was adopted by early Christian communities and became associated with the concept of divine wisdom, as represented in the Bible's Wisdom literature and the Book of Proverbs.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Sophie can be found in the writings of the 4th-century Christian philosopher and theologian, St. Basil the Great. He mentioned a woman named Sophie in his work "On the Holy Spirit."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Sophie. One of the most famous was Sophie of Bavaria (1805-1872), a Duchess of Alençon and an influential figure in the French court during the reign of her brother-in-law, King Louis Philippe.

Another prominent Sophie was Sophie Germain (1776-1831), a French mathematician, physicist, and philosopher. She made significant contributions to the fields of number theory and elasticity and was the first woman to win a prize from the French Academy of Sciences.

In the realm of literature, Sophie Treadwell (1885-1970) was an American playwright and novelist known for her play "Machinal," which explored themes of feminism and social oppression.

Sophie Scholl (1921-1943) was a German student and anti-Nazi political activist who was executed for her involvement in the White Rose resistance movement during World War II.

Lastly, Sophie Taeuber-Arp (1889-1943) was a Swiss artist and dancer who was a prominent figure in the Dada and Constructivist movements in the early 20th century.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Sophie, a name that has been deeply intertwined with concepts of wisdom, knowledge, and intellectual curiosity.

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

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

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