Sophie is a feminine given name of French origin, derived from the Greek word "sophia" which means wisdom. The name has been popular throughout history and has been worn by many notable figures in various fields.
The name Sophie first appeared in France during the Middle Ages, where it was often used as a diminutive form of Sophia or Sophronie. It gained popularity among the French nobility and eventually spread to other European countries such as Germany, Scandinavia, and the United Kingdom.
In England, the name Sophie became popular during the Victorian era due to the influence of Queen Victoria's German family. The queen had three daughters named Victoria, Alice, and Louise, but her favorite was her fourth child, Princess Sophia. This further popularized the name among English-speaking populations.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Sophie. One of the most famous is Sophie Germain, a French mathematician who made significant contributions to number theory and differential geometry during the 19th century. Another notable figure is Sophie Scholl, a German student who was executed by Nazi Germany for her role in the White Rose non-violent resistance movement against Adolf Hitler's regime.
Today, Sophie continues to be a popular given name among English-speaking populations. It has consistently ranked among the top 500 names for girls in the United States since the 1970s and remains a beloved choice for parents seeking a classic yet timeless name for their daughter.
The given statistics illustrate the trends of babies named Sophie born annually in the United States from 1880 to 2023. The name's popularity has shown significant fluctuations over this period.
From 1880 to around 1910, there were fewer than 1000 births each year with the name Sophie. However, the number of babies named Sophie began to rise steadily from 1910 onwards, reaching its first peak in 1915 with 2112 births.
The popularity of the name continued to grow throughout much of the 20th century. By the early 1960s, more than 100 babies were being named Sophie each year. There was a noticeable dip in popularity during the late 1970s and early 1980s, but it rebounded strongly from around 1983.
In recent decades, the name Sophie has seen tremendous growth in popularity. It reached another peak in 2007 with 3988 births, which was more than triple the number of babies named Sophie just ten years prior. The popularity has remained high since then, with over 3000 babies named Sophie born annually from 2016 to 2022.
In total, based on these statistics, there have been 130976 babies named Sophie born in the United States between 1880 and 2023. This data provides a fascinating insight into how trends in baby naming have changed over time.