UK girl's name
Sophia
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "wisdom".
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.
Sophia is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Sophia popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #13, with 1,610 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2012, with 2,855 births.
This profile covers 46,936 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 56% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 52,892 living people in the UK are called Sophia. 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
- • Sophia ranked #13 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 1,610 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2012, when 2,855 girls were registered as Sophia.
- • Sophia ranks best in London in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #5 in 2024.
- • About 52,892 living people in the UK are estimated to have Sophia as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#13
2024
Births in 2024
1,610
Latest year
Peak year
2012
2,855 births
Estimated living
52,892
2026
Meaning
What does Sophia mean?
The name Sophia has its origins in Ancient Greek, derived from the word "σοφία" (sophia), meaning "wisdom" or "skill." This name has been widely used across various cultures and time periods, reflecting its deep-rooted significance.
In ancient Greek mythology, Sophia was the personification of wisdom and one of the four cardinal virtues, along with prudence, justice, and fortitude. The concept of Sophia was revered and celebrated, often depicted as a divine feminine figure.
The name Sophia is mentioned in various ancient texts, including the Bible. In the Book of Proverbs, Sophia is personified as the embodiment of wisdom, guiding humankind towards righteousness and virtue. Additionally, in the Gnostic tradition, Sophia played a central role as a divine feminine principle.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Sophia can be traced back to the 3rd century BC. One of the most notable figures bearing this name was Sophia of Milan, a Christian martyr who lived in the 4th century AD and was renowned for her unwavering faith and courage in the face of persecution.
Throughout history, numerous influential women have borne the name Sophia. One such figure was Sophia Palaiologina (1240-1321), a Byzantine empress and regent who played a crucial role in the political and cultural affairs of the Byzantine Empire during a turbulent period.
Another famous Sophia was Sophia Brahe (1556-1643), a Danish astronomer and horticulturist known for her contributions to the study of astronomy and her extensive gardens, which were considered remarkable for their time.
In the realm of literature, Sophia Valentina Gavrilovna Tolstaya (1844-1919), the wife of renowned Russian author Leo Tolstoy, was a prominent figure. She was instrumental in transcribing and preserving many of her husband's works, ensuring their legacy.
The name Sophia has also been associated with intellectual and philosophical pursuits. Sophia Germain (1776-1831), a French mathematician, made significant contributions to the fields of number theory and elasticity, paving the way for future advancements in mathematics.
Throughout the ages, the name Sophia has been embraced by numerous cultures, reflecting its enduring appeal and association with wisdom, intelligence, and grace. It continues to be a popular choice for parents seeking a name with depth and historical significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Sophia over time
The chart below shows babies named Sophia 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 Sophia, the clearest high point is 2012. The latest England and Wales figure is 1,610 births in 2024, compared with 2,855 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Sophia by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Sophia 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 | #12 | 9,149 | 5 |
| 2010s | #14 | 25,517 | 10 |
| 2000s | #62 | 10,056 | 10 |
| 1990s | #93 | 2,214 | 4 |
Geography
Where Sophia is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Sophia. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Sophia ranks best in London in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #5 in 2024.
Across the UK
Sophia in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#6 in 2024
50 years of NRS records, 4,030 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#8 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 2,187 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Sophia
-
Sophia Smith Galer
journalist
Journalist
1994-
-
Sophia Myles
actor; stage actor; film actor; television actor
British actor
1980-
-
Sophia McDougall
writer; novelist
British writer
1979-
-
Sophia Warner
athletics competitor
English athlete
1974-
-
Sophia Mirza
British victim of myalgic encephalomyalitis (ME)
1974-2005
-
Sophia Swire
businessperson
businessperson
1963-
-
Sophia Morrison
writer; children's writer; collector of fairy tales
Manx writer (1859-1917)
1859-1917
-
Sophia Lonsdale
British social activist
1854-1936
Related
Names similar to Sophia
- Sophie 103,803
- 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
- Savannah 8,846
FAQ
Sophia: questions and answers
How popular is the name Sophia in the UK right now?
In 2024, Sophia was ranked #13 for girls in England and Wales, with 1,610 births registered.
When was Sophia most popular?
The peak year on record was 2012, with 2,855 babies registered as Sophia in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Sophia?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "wisdom".
How many people are called Sophia in the UK?
A total of 46,936 babies have been registered as Sophia across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 4,030 more in Scotland and 2,187 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Sophia most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Sophia ranks best in London, where it placed #5 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.