Sophia is a popular choice in the UK, ranked #13 in 2025. There's a good chance they'll share their name with at least one classmate throughout school.
Origin & Meaning
Greek — Wisdom
⭐
UK Rank 2025
#13
US Rank #5
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About the Name Sophia
Sophia ranked #13 in 2025, down from its peak of #7 in 2019 — still a familiar name, but past its high point. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 30 of the last 30 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
The name carries Greek roots, where it means "Wisdom". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Sophia is one of the most popular names in the UK — yet a class of 28 is small enough that your child will very likely be the only Sophia on the register.
It ranks similarly in the US at #5, suggesting broad transatlantic appeal.
⭐ Famous People Named Sophia
Hagia Sophia — Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, formally called as Temple of God's Holy Wisdom, is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey.
Sophia Laforteza — Sophia Elizabeth Guevara Laforteza is a Filipino and American singer.
Sophia of Hanover — Sophia was Electress of Hanover from 1692 to 1698 as the consort of Prince-Elector Ernest Augustus.
Biographical summaries are shortened from Wikipedia and are used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence; those summaries remain available under that same licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Sophia
Unlikely. With around 1,547 UK babies named Sophia per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Sophia in their class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Sophia has been fairly steady, ranked #13 in 2025 against #10 in 2020. Its best recorded position was #7 in 2019.
The name Sophia has Greek origins and means "Wisdom". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Sophia include: Hagia Sophia, Sophia Laforteza and Sophia Ali. Short summaries for each appear below.
Yes — Sophia is very popular in the United States, ranked #5 in 2025. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
1,547
UK babies named Sophia (2025)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.8
In a school of 600
↓ 3 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Sophia
Almost certainly the only Sophia in the class
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UK Popularity (1996–2025)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2025)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Sophia
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Hagia Sophia, officially the Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque, formally called as Temple of God's Holy Wisdom, is a mosque and a major cultural and historical site in Istanbul, Turkey.
Countess Sophia Andreyevna Tolstaya (Russian: Софья Андреевна Толстая, née Behrs (Берс); 3 September [O.S. 22 August] 1844 – 4 November 1919), sometimes anglicised as Sofia Tolstoy, Sophia Tolstoy and Sonya Tolstoy, was a Russian diarist, and the wife of writer Count Leo Tolstoy.
Sophia Schliemann, born Sophia Engastromenou (Σοφία Εγκαστρωμένου) was the Greek second wife of the businessman and amateur archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann.
Sophia Fominichna Palaiologina or Paleologue (Russian: София Фоминична Палеолог, romanized: Sofiya Fominichna Paleolog; born Zoe Palaiologina; Medieval Greek: Ζωή Παλαιολογίνα; c. 1449 – 7 April 1503) was a Byzantine princess from the Palaiologos imperial dynasty and the grand princess of Moscow as the second wife of Ivan III of Russia.