Zophia

Meaning & origin

Zophia is a modern respelling of the classic name Sophia, first appearing in U.S. birth records in 1999. It reached its peak rank of 6325 in 2013, but has since declined, with its trajectory showing falling popularity since 2012. As a variant, Zophia carries the same Greek meaning of "wisdom" while offering a distinctive spelling. Unlike the top-ranked Sophia, Zophia remains uncommon, with a unique 1-in-89293 usage rate in 2025. It has not been consistently recorded in any single top state, reflecting its scattered use across the country. Parents choosing Zophia often seek a recognizable yet less common alternative to the highly popular Sophia.

Zophia is a modern respelling of Sophia, derived from the Greek word sophia (wisdom). The original Sophia was a common name among early Christians, associated with Saint Sophia, a martyr venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church. The variant Zophia gained some usage in the United States starting in the late 1990s, possibly influenced by the popularity of Sophia and its phonetic variants.