Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Sonya
GirlRussian, Greek· “wisdom”
- Meaning
- wisdom
- Origin
- Russian, Greek
- Pronunciation
- SOHN-yuh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #1,939
- US babies 2025
- 100
- Best rank
- #114 (1967)
- Peak year
- 1967
Meaning and origin of Sonya
Sonya is a Russian and Greek name that means “wisdom”.
Sonya is a Russian diminutive of Sofia, which comes from the Greek sophia, wisdom. Russian literature brought it to wide attention: Sonya Marmeladova in Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment and Sonya Rostova in Tolstoy's War and Peace are both memorable characters. English speakers adopted it in the twentieth century, alongside the spelling Sonia. The name feels warm and slightly vintage, with a musical two-syllable sound. It stands on its own easily and needs no nickname, though Sonny is sometimes used in a playful way.
Popularity over time
Sonya first appears in US Social Security records in 1905. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 75 different years, starting in 1927. Its best national rank was #114 in 1967, the same year it reached its highest count of 2,980 babies. In 2025, 100 babies were named Sonya, and it ranked #1,939 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #1,622 in 1920, #587 in 1950, #215 in 1980, #892 in 2000, #1,243 in 2010, and #1,939 in 2025. Of the 65,772 US girls named Sonya since records began, 34% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 19,468 babies. Since 2010, 2,202 more have been named Sonya.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Yvette, Kimberley, Sonja, Audra, and Gina.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sonya ranked highest in Colorado, Wisconsin, and Florida.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | #897 | 6 |
| Wisconsin | #913 | 5 |
| Florida | #1534 | 9 |
| California | #2071 | 10 |
| Texas | #2371 | 9 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Sonya is usually pronounced SOHN-yuh, with two syllables. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ya”.
Middle names for Sonya
A few middle names that flow with Sonya: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sonya
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Lists that include Sonya
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sonya mean?
Sonya is a Russian and Greek name that means “wisdom”.
What is the origin of the name Sonya?
Sonya has Russian and Greek roots. Sonya is a Russian diminutive of Sofia, which comes from the Greek sophia, wisdom.
Is Sonya a popular name?
Not especially. Sonya ranked #1,939 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Sonya a boy or girl name?
Sonya is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Sonya?
Sonya is usually pronounced SOHN-yuh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings