Sonia
Girl name · #1303 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Sonia? In official American birth records, Sonia has been tracked continuously since 1895, giving it 130 years of documented American history.
Sonia ranks #1303 among American girls' names as of 2025, with 171 newborns given the name that year. A decade ago it stood at #1068, so the name has been falling over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,526 girls born in 2025 was named Sonia.
The 130-year story
Sonia first appears in the Social Security records in 1895, when 7 girls received the name. Its peak came in 1970, when 1,767 girls were named Sonia — good for #186 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Babies named Sonia per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Sonia against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Sonia in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Sonia is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Sonia will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Sonia is most common
Geography matters for names, and Sonia is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Sonia is most common in IL (0.3 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000), FL (0.1 per 1,000), TX (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Sonia is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Sonia
Statistically, parents drawn to Sonia tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Alisa, Sonya, Dana, Silvia, and Stacy.
AlisaSonyaDanaSilviaStacyDinaTamaraDelia
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Sonia | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 171 | #1299 |
| 2024 | 169 | #1350 |
| 2023 | 183 | #1255 |
| 2022 | 211 | #1152 |
| 2021 | 191 | #1229 |
| 2020 | 214 | #1126 |
| 2019 | 217 | #1119 |
| 2018 | 240 | #1064 |
| 2017 | 267 | #978 |
| 2016 | 264 | #999 |
| 2015 | 246 | #1068 |
| 2014 | 283 | #948 |
| 2013 | 298 | #865 |
| 2012 | 328 | #817 |
| 2011 | 351 | #774 |
| 2010 | 392 | #720 |
| 2009 | 425 | #687 |
| 2008 | 423 | #709 |
| 2007 | 460 | #645 |
| 2006 | 481 | #607 |
| 2005 | 489 | #582 |
| 2004 | 516 | #551 |
| 2003 | 498 | #555 |
| 2002 | 520 | #530 |
| 2001 | 542 | #507 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Sonia?
In official American birth records, the name Sonia first appeared in 1895 (over 130 years ago), when 7 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Sonia a popular girl name?
Sonia ranked #1303 among girls in 2025 with 171 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1068.
When was the name Sonia most popular?
Sonia peaked in 1970, when 1,767 American girls received the name (ranked #186 that year). Since 1970 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Sonia?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,526 newborn American girls was named Sonia. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.