Declining since 1985, #1,927 for girls today.
Popularity of Sonya since 1905
Babies named Sonya per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 18 |
| 1910s | 209 |
| 1920s | 416 |
| 1930s | 1,655 |
| 1940s | 1,759 |
| 1950s | 3,664 |
| 1960s | 22,289 |
| 1970s | 19,468 |
| 1980s | 8,428 |
| 1990s | 3,385 |
| 2000s | 2,279 |
| 2010s | 1,568 |
| 2020s | 634 |
Meaning & origin
The name Sonya has experienced fluctuating popularity over time. It first appeared on U.S. records in 1905 and saw its peak year in 1967. Since 1985, its usage has been in decline, dropping to a rank of 1927 in 2025 with roughly 1 in every 16073 newborns receiving the name. Geographically, Sonya has been most common in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Florida. Despite its current lower frequency, Sonya remains a familiar and recognizable name with a long history of use in various cultures, particularly Russian and English-speaking countries.
Sonya is a variant of Sonya, itself a Russian diminutive of Sophia, which comes from the Greek word sophia meaning 'wisdom'. The name was popularized in the English-speaking world during the 19th century and gained particular prominence in the 1960s and 1970s.
Where Sonya 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: Son, Soni
Sibling names for Sonya
Names that share Sonya's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Sonya
Names whose popularity has moved with Sonya's over the last 50 years.
