girl's name
Sophie
SOH-fee
- Origin Greek
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 6
- Popularity Top 100 (France)
- Births on record 546,363
the United States
#55
2025 births
Sophie is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "wisdom," the French form of Sophia. It comes directly from the Greek word sophía and shares its root with philosophy, literally the love of wisdom.
- Sophie is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in France in 1971, when 11,210 babies were given the name.
- Its usage has held steady over the past decade in France.
- Today about 1 in 2,068 babies in France is given this name.
- First appears in birth records in 1900.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Sophie over time
Births per decade in France, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 3,385 |
| 1910s | 1,755 |
| 1920s | 2,580 |
| 1930s | 2,455 |
| 1940s | 1,155 |
| 1950s | 6,925 |
| 1960s | 53,455 |
| 1970s | 86,315 |
| 1980s | 54,995 |
| 1990s | 22,505 |
| 2000s | 6,345 |
| 2010s | 3,820 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,785 |
What Sophie means
Sophie means wisdom, identical in sense to Sophia since the two are the same name. The French spelling reflects that language's treatment of the Greek ending, and English adopted it alongside the Latinate Sophia rather than in place of it.
Where Sophie comes from
Sophie is the French development of Sophia, from the Greek sophía, wisdom. The name spread across Christian Europe from the Greek-speaking east, where Holy Wisdom was venerated and commemorated in the sixth-century Hagia Sophia at Constantinople. French produced Sophie, German kept Sophie and Sophia side by side, and English took both. Sophie became particularly established in Britain, where it has been among the most consistently used girls' names for decades. The Greek root is visible throughout English in philosophy, sophisticated, and sophomore, the last built from words for wise and foolish together.
How popular is Sophie?
In 2025, Sophie was given to 285 babies in France, ranking #208 that year. It is one of the most popular names in France.
Where Sophie is used
French counts are rounded to the nearest five and nothing below five is published, so these figures show the shape of the name's use rather than an exact tally. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Sophie
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Sophie also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Sophie over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
2 nicknames for Sophie
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Sophie in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Sophie
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Sophie — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Sophie
What does the name Sophie mean?
Sophie means "wisdom," from the Greek sophía.
Is Sophie short for Sophia?
Sophie is the French form of Sophia rather than a shortening, though it is often used as one in English.
Is Sophie related to philosophy?
Yes. Philosophy comes from the Greek for love of wisdom, using the same root.
How popular is the name Sophie?
In 2025, Sophie was given to 285 babies in France, ranking #208 that year. It is one of the most popular names in France.
Is Sophie a girl's or a boy's name?
Sophie is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Sophie?
Sophie has 2 syllables.
When was Sophie most popular?
Sophie peaked in 1971, when 11,210 babies were given the name. Its usage has held steady over the past decade.
What are the nicknames for Sophie?
Sophie is usually shortened to Fifi and Sophy.
Is Sophie a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Sophie currently ranks #6 in France. Its usage has held steady over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.