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Home › Baby Names Directory › Sophia

Sophia

♂ Boy

Pronounced soh-FEE-uh /soʊˈfi.ə/High

Meaning: Sophia is Greek for 'wisdom' (sophia). It is one of the most popular girls' names in the world and has been for generations, honoured in Christian tradition through Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) and Saint Sophia. It is recorded here for a boy, which is very much the exception - Sophia is overwhelmingly a girl's name, and we state that plainly.High

In 30 seconds: Sophia is Greek for 'wisdom'. It is overwhelmingly a girl's name - its listing here for a boy is a rare exception, which we state plainly (said 'soh-FEE-uh').
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Origin HighGreek
MeaningSophia is Greek for 'wisdom' (sophia). It is one of the most popular girls' names in the world and has been for generations, honoured in Christian tradition through Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) and Saint Sophia. It is recorded here for a boy, which is very much the exception - Sophia is overwhelmingly a girl's name, and we state that plainly.
U.S. rank (2023)#8822 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year2004
Total births (all-time)≈ 500

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200419172023

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

Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. It became a name through Christian veneration of Holy Wisdom - the great church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople means 'Holy Wisdom' - and through Saint Sophia. It has been among the most popular girls' names in the English-speaking world and far beyond for many years. It appears here as a boy's name, which is very much the exception: Sophia is overwhelmingly a girls' name, and we say so plainly rather than dress the listing up as something it is not (said 'soh-FEE-uh').

For boys it appears only very rarely in the U.S., against overwhelming girls' use. Rare for boys; a leading girls' name.

Did you know? Sophia is simply the Greek word for wisdom, and the great church of Constantinople - Hagia Sophia - is named 'Holy Wisdom'. The name is overwhelmingly given to girls; recorded here for a boy, it is a rare exception, which we state plainly (said 'soh-FEE-uh').
Overall data confidence 75%
References - Sophia — Greek sophia 'wisdom'; Hagia Sophia; Saint Sophia. Overwhelmingly a girls' name.

Variations

SofiaSophieSofya

Nicknames

SophiSophFia

Famous Bearers

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If you like Sophia…

Sofia— the other main spelling of the same name
Sophie— the short form of the same name
Theo— a like Greek-rooted name used for boys
Philo— another Greek word-name in the wisdom family

Explore names like Sophia

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Sophia mean?

Sophia is Greek for 'wisdom'. It is honoured in Christian tradition through Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) and Saint Sophia.

How do you pronounce Sophia?

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

Is Sophia a boy or girl name?

Sophia is overwhelmingly a girl's name. It is recorded here for a boy, which is a rare exception - we state that plainly.

How popular is Sophia?

For boys Sophia is very rare; for girls it is one of the most popular names in the U.S.

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