Declining since 1986, #3,903 for girls today.
Popularity of Sonja since 1906
Babies named Sonja per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1968, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Sonja's real moment was 1938.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 89 |
| 1920s | 231 |
| 1930s | 3,143 |
| 1940s | 5,081 |
| 1950s | 4,619 |
| 1960s | 10,962 |
| 1970s | 7,962 |
| 1980s | 3,240 |
| 1990s | 1,695 |
| 2000s | 1,187 |
| 2010s | 956 |
| 2020s | 342 |
Meaning & origin
Sonja is a name of Slavic origin, specifically a Russian diminutive of Sofia, meaning "wisdom." It has been widely used across Scandinavia, Germany, and other European countries. In the United States, Sonja first appeared in records in 1906. The name saw its peak in 1938, when it was at its highest rank. However, it has been on a falling trajectory since 1986, and in 2025 it ranks around 3,903, with roughly 1 in 43,440 newborns receiving the name. Sonja has never been among the top 1,000 names in recent decades, but it retains associations with strong, classic European roots.
Sonja is a Russian feminine given name, a diminutive of Sofia (or Sophia), which itself comes from the Greek word sophia, meaning "wisdom." However, due to association with the Hebrew name Hannah (meaning "grace"), the name has been traditionally interpreted as "God is gracious." The name spread throughout Scandinavia and German-speaking countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Where Sonja is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Sonya, Sonia
Sibling names for Sonja
Names that share Sonja's style, for a brother or sister.
