Sophia
Say it: so-FEE-a/səˈfiːə/
GirlMeans wisdom6 letters3 syllables
#14
in Ireland (2025)
201
babies in 2025
#13
best rank (2023)
4,998
babies since 1965
Up 7
10-year rank change
Sophia through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 201 | #14 |
| 2024 | 180 | #20 |
| 2023 | 218 | #13 |
| 2022 | 200 | #22 |
| 2021 | 234 | #14 |
| 2020 | 219 | #18 |
| 2019 | 217 | #19 |
| 2018 | 215 | #22 |
| 2017 | 245 | #18 |
| 2016 | 243 | #22 |
| 2015 | 251 | #21 |
| 2014 | 316 | #15 |
| 2013 | 289 | #20 |
| 2012 | 299 | #21 |
| 2011 | 251 | #29 |
| 2010 | 218 | #33 |
| 2009 | 147 | #50 |
| 2008 | 126 | #56 |
| 2007 | 137 | #51 |
| 2006 | 87 | #69 |
| 2005 | 65 | #85 |
| 2004 | 81 | #71 |
| 2003 | 51 | #100 |
| 2002 | 43 | #113 |
| 2001 | 35 | #128 |
| 2000 | 39 | #109 |
| 1999 | 39 | #102 |
| 1998 | 25 | #141 |
| 1997 | 33 | #150 |
| 1996 | 17 | #227 |
| 1995 | 20 | #196 |
| 1994 | 21 | #190 |
| 1993 | 21 | #193 |
| 1992 | 12 | #283 |
| 1991 | 12 | #273 |
| 1990 | 17 | #221 |
| 1989 | 7 | #353 |
| 1988 | 15 | #252 |
| 1987 | 9 | #329 |
| 1986 | 6 | #388 |
| 1985 | 3 | #519 |
| 1984 | 4 | #459 |
| 1983 | 4 | #476 |
| 1982 | 12 | #300 |
| 1981 | 14 | #272 |
| 1980 | 4 | #483 |
| 1979 | 6 | #391 |
| 1978 | 6 | #388 |
| 1977 | 4 | #468 |
| 1976 | 6 | #360 |
| 1975 | 7 | #343 |
| 1974 | 14 | #264 |
| 1973 | 9 | #317 |
| 1972 | 8 | #312 |
| 1971 | 7 | #326 |
| 1970 | 5 | #363 |
| 1969 | 5 | #351 |
| 1968 | 5 | #327 |
| 1966 | 10 | #226 |
| 1965 | 4 | #325 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Sophia mean?
Wisdom
Greek, from sophia (wisdom).
Say it right
soFEEa
Some people say so-FY-a or SOH-fee-a.
The story of Sophia
Sophia is the Greek word for wisdom. Early Christians used it for holy or divine wisdom, and it was also the name of an early martyr, Saint Sophia. The name was common in Orthodox countries long before it caught on in the West. Sophie is the French form, and Sofia is a popular modern spelling.
Irish readers may know it from The Vicar of Wakefield by Oliver Goldsmith, where Sophia is one of the vicar’s daughters.
Sophia first appears in the CSO records in 1965, though only a handful of girls got the name each year at first. It grew through the 2000s, and 316 girls were named Sophia in 2014, its busiest year. Its best rank was number 13 in 2023. In Northern Ireland it did better still, reaching 4th in 2011. The CSO counts Sophia and Sofia as separate names.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Sophia (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Sophia (given name)
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland, full name list 1997-2025
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Sophia | 201 | 4,998 |
In Northern Ireland
#15 in 2025 with 68 babies. Best rank #4 (2011); 2,255 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.