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Sophie

Girl name · 15,320 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Sophie: 15,320 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 773 births in 2010.

Sophie, the French form of Sophia, ultimately derives from the Greek *sophia* meaning "wisdom." It entered the English-speaking world via France, becoming a particular favourite in Scotland from the late 20th century. The most famous bearer is arguably the actress Sophie Marceau, who charmed audiences as Princess Isabella in *Braveheart*. More recently, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh (née Rhys-Jones) has been a quiet presence in British royal life, and the name also belongs to Sophie Dahl, the model and cookbook author. The city of Sofia in Bulgaria, while spelled differently, shares the same root, as does the Russian variant Sofya. The name's long-standing popularity is likely helped by its soft sound and its connection to the wise heroine in *The BFG*, never seeming to date.