Sonya spent much of the 20th century on the list of the top 1,000 names for baby girls in the United States, and it almost even broke into the top 100 during the 1960s, but it has fallen out of favor over the last couple of decades. Few people realize that the name is actually derived from the Greek Sophia, which happens to be one of the top baby names in the United States right now. If you want to bring Sonia back into the 21st century, consider pairing it with a current middle name.
Meaning of the name Sonya:
Russian: Wisdom
Greek: Wisdom
Origin of the name Sonya:
Sonya is actually an alternative spelling of Sonia, which is a Russian take on the Greek name Sophia. It means “wisdom.”
Symbolism of the name Sonya:
Sonya's meaning of “wisdom” may offer some symbolism to new parents. They may choose the name hoping their little girl grows up to have plenty of wisdom or takes in all of the wisdom the world has to offer.
Style of the name Sonya:
Modern
Gender of the name Sonya:
Sonya is a girl's name.
Pronunciation of the name Sonya:
SAHN-ya
Number of syllables in the name Sonya:
Two
Emotion evoked from the name Sonya:
The baby name Sonya evokes images of someone who is always cool and collected. She never lets her emotions get in the way of accomplishing her tasks and goals.
Alternative spellings for the name Sonya:
- Sonia
- Sonja
- Sohnia
- Sondya
- Sonnya
Nicknames for the name Sonya:
- Soni
- Sonnie
- Yaya
Popularity of the name Sonya:
According to the Social Security Administration, Sonya was a top 1,000 baby name for girls in the United States from 1927 until 2003. It was most popular in 1967 when it ranked at number 114. It last ranked at number 976 in 2003.
Related names for the name Sonya:
Great middle names for Sonya and their meanings:
- Harper (harp player)
- Katherine (pure)
- Alice (noble)
- Eleanor (meaning unknown)
- Charlotte (free man)
- Rose (flower)
- Lucille (light)
- Claire (bright, clear)
- Margaret (pearl)
Famous people with the name Sonya:
- Sonya Harnett (writer)
- Sonya Isaacs (singer)
- Sonya Jeyaseelan (tennis player)
- Sonya Koshkina (journalist)
- Sonya Walger (actress)
Sonya in popular culture:
- Sonya (character in the manga “Baby, Please Kill Me!”)
- Sonya (character in the video game “Heroes of the Storm”)
- Sonya (character in the “Vampire Academy” book series)
- Sonya Blade (character in the “Mortal Combat” video game series)
- Sonya (character in the novel “War and Peace”)