UK girl's name
Sona
A Sanskrit feminine name meaning "golden" or "beautiful gold".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Sona is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sona popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 10 births.
This profile covers 101 England and Wales registrations across 21 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. 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 30% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 100 living people in the UK are called Sona. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Sona ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2008, when 10 girls were registered as Sona.
- • About 100 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sona as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2008
10 births
Estimated living
100
2026
Meaning
What does Sona mean?
The name Sona has its origins in several ancient languages and cultures. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "Sona," which means "golden" or "beautiful." The name has been traced back to the Vedic period in ancient India, dating back to around 1500 BCE.
In Hindu mythology, Sona is associated with the goddess Lakshmi, the deity of wealth, fortune, and prosperity. The name is also found in ancient Hindu texts, such as the Puranas, where it is often used to describe the beauty and radiance of celestial beings.
The name Sona has also been used in various regions of the Indian subcontinent, including parts of present-day India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. It has been popular among Hindus, Sikhs, and Muslims alike.
One of the earliest recorded uses of the name Sona comes from the ancient Indian epic, the Mahabharata. In the epic, Sona is mentioned as the name of a female character who was known for her beauty and grace.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Sona. One of the most famous was Sona Mohapatra, an Indian playback singer and music composer born in 1976. She has received several awards and accolades for her contributions to the Indian music industry.
Another prominent figure named Sona was Sona Avedisian (1914-1989), an Armenian-American artist and sculptor. Her works have been exhibited in various galleries and museums across the United States and Europe.
In the field of literature, Sona Nair (1956-2010) was an Indian author and playwright known for her contributions to Malayalam literature. Her works often explored themes of feminism and social issues.
Sona Hosian (1915-2001) was a Pakistani classical singer and musician who played a significant role in promoting and preserving the traditional music of Pakistan. She was awarded the Pride of Performance, one of the highest civilian honors in Pakistan, for her contributions to the arts.
SonaJobarteh (born 1983) is a Gambian kora player and singer who has gained international recognition for her work in promoting and preserving the traditional music of West Africa. She has performed at numerous festivals and concerts around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sona over time
The chart below shows babies named Sona registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Sona, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 10 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sona by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sona 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4926 | 15 | 4 |
| 2010s | #4981 | 27 | 7 |
| 2000s | #2862 | 46 | 7 |
| 1990s | #3105 | 13 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Sona
- 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
Sona: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sona in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sona was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Sona most popular?
The peak year on record was 2008, with 10 babies registered as Sona in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sona?
A Sanskrit feminine name meaning "golden" or "beautiful gold".
How many people are called Sona in the UK?
A total of 101 babies have been registered as Sona across the 21 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.