Sofia

♂ Boy

Pronounced soh-FEE-uh /soʊˈfiː.ə/High

Meaning: From Greek sophia, 'wisdom' — one of the most popular girls' names in the world, borne by saints and empresses and by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Recorded here for a boy, it runs strongly against the grain, and we note that clearly.High

In 30 seconds: Sofia is Greek for 'wisdom' — and it is overwhelmingly a girl's name worldwide (said 'soh-FEE-uh'). We note that lean clearly.

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Origin HighGreek

MeaningFrom Greek sophia, 'wisdom' — one of the most popular girls' names in the world, borne by saints and empresses and by the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. Recorded here for a boy, it runs strongly against the grain, and we note that clearly.

U.S. rank (2024)#13908 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births5 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2004

Total births (all-time)≈ 178

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Sofia comes from Greek sophia, 'wisdom'. It was carried by early saints, by Byzantine and Russian royalty, and by the great church of Hagia Sophia — 'Holy Wisdom' — in Constantinople. It ranks among the most popular girls' names worldwide today. Its appearance as a boy's name is very unusual, and families should know that: the name reads unmistakably as a girl's to almost everyone who hears it. We note that lean clearly (said 'soh-FEE-uh').

For boys in the U.S. it appears only very rarely, against enormous use for girls. Very rare for boys, classic, and wise.

Did you know? Sofia means 'wisdom' in Greek, and it is one of the most-given girls' names on earth — the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul is the 'Church of Holy Wisdom'. Recorded here for a boy, it runs strongly against the usual grain, which we note clearly.

Overall data confidence 60%

References — Sofia — Greek sophia 'wisdom'; overwhelmingly a girls' name

Variations

SophiaSofijaZofia

Nicknames

SofFia

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

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Stefano— another classic pick

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sofia mean?

Sofia is Greek for 'wisdom', from sophia — the same word behind the Hagia Sophia, the 'Church of Holy Wisdom'.

How do you pronounce Sofia?

It's said soh-FEE-uh /soʊˈfiː.ə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Sofia a boy or girl name?

Here Sofia is recorded as a boy's name, but it is overwhelmingly a girl's name worldwide, and we note that lean clearly.

How popular is Sofia?

Sofia is very rare for boys in the U.S., while remaining one of the most popular names for girls.