The nameSonja
Sonja is the Scandinavian and German spelling of Sonia. It reached the American top 200 in the 1930s.
- Girl's name
- Scandinavian
Meaning
Sonja comes from Sonya, the Russian pet form of Sofia, "wisdom".
Origin
Scandinavian, from Russian.
History
The Norwegian skater Sonja Henie, a Hollywood star in the 1930s, made the name familiar in America. It reached 180th place in 1938.
Did you know?
- The Norwegian skater Sonja Henie won Olympic gold three times, in 1928, 1932 and 1936, before becoming a Hollywood star.
Famous people named Sonja
- Sonja Henie, figure skater
- Queen Sonja of Norway
Popularity of the name Sonja
Sonja in the United States
Sonja was most popular in the United States in the 1960s, with 10,974 births over the decade, 28% of all recorded babies named Sonja. Its rise began around 1936, and it peaked in 1967. Half of all babies named Sonja in the United States were born before 1966, so it is mostly a parents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 61 births a year on average, against 81 in the five years before.
Sonja in France
Sonja was most popular in France in the 1950s, with 270 births over the decade, 30% of all recorded babies named Sonja. Its rise began around 1925, and it peaked in 1951. Half of all babies named Sonja in France were born before 1953, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name.
Sonja in Austria
Sonja in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Sonja
Names from the same generation as Sonja, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Sonja? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Sonja with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Sonja side by side with the name of your choice.
Sonja in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sonja mean?
Sonja comes from Sonya, the Russian pet form of Sofia, "wisdom".
What is the origin of the name Sonja?
Scandinavian, from Russian.
Is Sonja a girl's or a boy's name?
Sonja is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Sonja?
In 2024, Sonja was the 2919th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 56 births.
What are the variants of the name Sonja?
Variants and related names of Sonja include Sofia, Sonia and Sonya.
What are good sibling names for Sonja?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Melia, Katy, Selma and Annalisa for a sister, Lars, Kamil, Mikel and Erwin for a brother.
Who are famous people named Sonja?
Sonja Henie, figure skater; Queen Sonja of Norway.