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Sonja

Girl name · 64 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sonja: 64 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 9 births in 1976.

The name Sonja is a Scandinavian and German spelling of Sonia, itself a variant of Sophia, from the Greek *sophia* meaning “wisdom.” Most famously, Sonja Henie (1912–1969) was a Norwegian figure skater who won three Olympic gold medals and later became a Hollywood film star. Queen Sonja of Norway, born in 1937, has been a beloved consort since her husband Harald V ascended the throne in 1991. The name does not directly lend itself to place names, but shares its root with the Russian-derived Sonya, made famous by literary characters such as Sonya Marmeladova in Dostoevsky’s *Crime and Punishment*. In Scotland, Sonja gained modest but steady usage from the 1970s onward, often chosen for its elegant,

Girl 12 of 52 years

Peak year
19769 babies
Latest (1989)
#5763 babies
Total births
64since 1974
5-year trend
▼ 18%vs prior 5y
1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 1976 · 9
Births per year in Scotland. Missing years had a count of 2 or fewer (suppressed by NRS).