UK girl's name
Sofiah
An Arabic feminine name meaning "wisdom" or "knowledge".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2016. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sofiah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sofiah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2016 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5785, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 5 births.
This profile covers 38 England and Wales registrations across 10 recorded years from 2000 to 2016. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 38 living people in the UK are called Sofiah. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2017 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sofiah ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales in 2016, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 5 girls were registered as Sofiah.
- • About 38 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sofiah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5785
2016
Births in 2016
3
Latest year
Peak year
2010
5 births
Estimated living
38
2026
Meaning
What does Sofiah mean?
The name Sofiah is derived from the Arabic word "sofia", which means "wisdom" or "philosophy". It has its roots in ancient Greek philosophy and is a variant of the name Sophia, which was popular among early Christian philosophers and scholars.
The earliest recorded use of the name Sofiah dates back to the 9th century, when it was mentioned in Arabic manuscripts. It was often used by Muslim scholars and intellectuals, as it embodied the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom, values that were highly prized in Islamic culture.
In the Middle Ages, the name Sofiah gained popularity in Europe, particularly in countries with strong ties to the Byzantine Empire, such as Greece and Russia. During this time, the name was associated with the concept of divine wisdom, as it was often used in religious texts and iconography to represent the personification of wisdom.
One of the most notable historical figures with the name Sofiah was Sofiah Paleologina, a 15th-century Byzantine princess who married Ivan III, the Grand Prince of Moscow. Their marriage played a significant role in strengthening the ties between the Byzantine and Russian empires.
Another prominent figure was Sofiah al-Sufi, a 10th-century Persian astronomer and mathematician who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy. Her work on describing the positions of stars and planets was highly influential in the Islamic world.
In the 16th century, Sofiah Duleep Singh, a Punjabi princess and influential figure in the British suffragette movement, was born in 1876. She fought for women's rights and was a prominent advocate for Indian independence.
The name Sofiah was also used by Sofiah Tolstaya, the wife of the renowned Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy. Born in 1844, she played a crucial role in preserving and promoting her husband's literary legacy.
In the 20th century, Sofiah Loren, the iconic Italian actress known for her stunning beauty and acting talent, was born in 1934. She won numerous awards, including an Academy Award, and was a cultural icon during the golden age of Hollywood.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sofiah over time
The chart below shows babies named Sofiah registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2000 to 2016. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sofiah, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2016, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sofiah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sofiah was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4744 | 25 | 6 |
| 2000s | #4701 | 13 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Sofiah
- Sophie 103,803
- Sophia 46,936
- Scarlett 34,261
- Sienna 32,418
- Sofia 29,136
- Sarah 27,961
- Shannon 25,510
- Summer 24,167
- Sara 14,205
- Skye 13,654
- Samantha 12,697
- Stephanie 9,309
FAQ
Sofiah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sofiah in the UK right now?
In 2016, Sofiah was ranked #5785 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sofiah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 5 babies registered as Sofiah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sofiah?
An Arabic feminine name meaning "wisdom" or "knowledge".
How many people are called Sofiah in the UK?
A total of 38 babies have been registered as Sofiah across the 10 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.