Sonja Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sonja originates from the Slavic diminutive of Sophia, which means wisdom. It has evolved through various forms, starting from Greek to modern usage. Sonja is associated with traits of strength and intelligence, and while it has no biblical relevance, it gained popularity in the 20th century and continues to be regarded favorably.
The name Sonja is most popular in Minnesota, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation X (Gen X) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sonja has been falling for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Sonja' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5592nd out of 6773 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 6839th out of 10718 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 2301st out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 352nd out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 380th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 286th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 757th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 1632nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 2356th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sonja' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sonja"
Pronunciation
/ˈsɒnjə/
Origin
Slavic
Etymology
The name Sonja is derived from the Slavic name 'Sonya', which is a diminutive form of 'Sophia', meaning wisdom.
Meaning
wisdom
Language Evolution
Sophia (Greek), Sofia (Latin), Sonya (Slavic), Sonja (Modern usage)
Historical Usage
The name Sonja became popular in the 20th century, particularly in Scandinavia and Eastern Europe, and has since spread to other regions.
Variants & Derivatives
Sonya, Sonia, Sophia, Sophie
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Sonja is perceived as a classic and elegant name, often associated with strength and intelligence.
Famous People
Sonja Henie, a Norwegian figure skater and actress, Sonja Morgan, an American television personality, Sonja Sohn, an American actress and director
Explore More Sonja Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sonja"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sonja"
"Sonja" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 5592nd of 6773 | 15 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 6839th of 10718 | 29 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 2301st of 9107 | 260 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 352nd of 9204 | 6,474 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 380th of 12526 | 10,963 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 286th of 19264 | 14,792 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 757th of 27321 | 4,083 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 1632nd of 35406 | 1,975 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 2356th of 30306 | 929 |
Regional Popularity of "Sonja" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sonja" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
72.30% 997th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
16.95% 262nd/1546 |
22.17% 345th/1556 |
17.38% 409th/2353 |
18.81% 291st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
15.45% 344th/2227 |
21.77% 529th/2430 |
11.71% 334th/2853 |
13.80% 383rd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
9.77% 287th/2937 |
11.74% 409th/3483 |
6.91% 243rd/3518 |
7.39% 299th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
17.56% 647th/3685 |
20.42% 914th/4475 |
18.29% 950th/5194 |
10.75% 679th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
26.30% 1205th/4582 |
39.99% 2065th/5164 |
38.36% 2805th/7313 |
18.73% 1398th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
43.07% 1716th/3984 |
68.11% 3056th/4487 |
57.65% 3933rd/6822 |
33.46% 2100th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sonja"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sonja" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.