Sophia remains Europe’s top girls’ name for third year running

For the third year in a row, the name Sophia has topped the charts of popular baby names for girls across Europe, according to official statistics. This trend is evident in countries like Italy, Poland, Spain, and the Baltic states, which show Sofia as the most common name for newborn girls. The name's widespread appeal is highlighted by its rise in France and the UK, reflecting its cross-border popularity.

In Germany, Sophia has maintained the top position for three decades, first experiencing widespread popularity in the east 30 years ago. This year, it continues to lead the naming trends in Europe, with its popularity slightly ebbing in Italy compared to its peaks in 2010 and 2016. Poland has seen a significant increase, with 5,000 newborns named Sophia in 2025, making up 5% of newborn girls. The name has also been consistently popular in Slovakia since 2022 and ranked third in the Czech Republic after Victoria.

In Spain, Sophia has surpassed Lucia and Martina, with 3,300 newborns, while in Austria, it ranks fifth behind Emma, Emilia, Maria, and Mia. France has seen Sophia climb from 44th to 29th place with 1,500 newborns, and it has entered the UK’s top twenty in both Sofia and Sophia spellings. The popularity of the name can be attributed to its meaning of wisdom, derived from the Greek word σοφία, and its phonetic flexibility, allowing it to be widely accepted across European languages and a classic yet modern choice for parents.