Is Sophia too common?

librarygirl123

DH and I have fallen in love with the name Sophia, but are worried that it is too popular. We personally only know know one 7th grader named Sophia (we both teach elementary school at different schools), but we don't know many kids ages 0-5.  We live in the South, and seem to know many Madelynns and Emmas. How many Sophias do you know? Should we start thinking about other names?

ginger1228

I only know 2, but I'm already sick of hearing it. I like it, but don't feel like it's original. If you don't mind it being common, then go for it.

Lolapop29

A lot.  At least 3 of my old high school friends have Sophia's, and also one of my close friends.  And that's just the ones I know personally.  I hear the name everywhere I go. 

Jennifer2008

It is popular but gorgeous. I say use it if you love it.

cmw&tdm

If you love it I'd say go ahead and use it. I'm not sick of hearing it, I don't think I know more than a couple Sophias. I hear Lily, Emma, Maddy/Madeline, Abigail a lot more and they are not technically as popular.

RebeccaS6627

I think it's a gorgeous name! I used it on my dog 10 years ago, and it has since become really popular where I live in the Northeast. I love the name, and I would still use it if I hadn't wasted it on my dog!

DaisyZH

It's a beautiful name, if you love it you should use it. I personally only know one two-year old Sophia, who goes by Sophie. I know a lot more Lilys in our area.

Chapter79

It depends on whether popularity bothers you or not. My DD has a popular name and it doesn't bother me because I love it.

But I do only know one Sophia in real life. She's in my daughters class (second grade).. there's only been one.

ashiscute

I think Sophia is popular but I wouldn't say common.  I know two Sophia's in real life.  One is 3, the other 4.  I would not let popularity deter me from using a name if I loved it as long as I didn't know tons personally.  I think Sophia is lovely.

KTtheWife

My DD is the only Sophia I know. I knew it was a popular name when we chose it, but it didn't bother me. I say go for it, but I'm a bit biased. :-)

Ceridwen21

There are a few at DS' daycare.  It's a lovely name.  I personally prefer Sophie just because it's a little less popular.

Helenahhandbasket

YES.

femmepink

Sophia is way too popular for my taste.

But if you really like it, go with it. There's nothing "wrong" with the name.

plunderb

It is a lovely name. If it feels like the right name, go for it, popular or not.

Sophia is actually slightly less popular in the South than it is in the rest of the country. It may be #1 nationally, but it is #14 in Mississippi, #6 in Alabama, #6 in Georgia, #5 in Arkansas, #5 in South Carolina. I mean, that's still really popular, but not quite up to the level of other regions. If you live in Mississippi, you might hear Emma and Maddy more often — in 2013, there were 143 Emmas, 143 Madisons, and 83 Sophias.

Though, do make sure you account for the Sofias as well. That makes the name slightly more popular than the data suggests. It still lags in the South, though — Sofia is #13 nationally, but #84 in MS, #77 in TN/WV/AL, #75 in LA, etc.

BC&LM

I think people put way too much stock into name popularity.  If it's a name you love, use it!  The number one names today aren't the same in popularity as the number one names when we were born twenty to thirty years ago. In 2013, only 1.039% of kids were named Sophia, whereas thirty years ago (1983), 3.0375% of kids were named Jennifer, the most popular female name of that year.

I personally don't know any Sophias, though someone I work with has a granddaughter with that name. That's the only one I can think of.

BC&LM

Idani said:

Regardless of how many you actually know the fact is it is popular. It's been number one for I think 3 years. It is still a beautiful name but you have to decide if it being popular bothers you, because again it is popular there is no denying it. You can search popularity by your state but it's likely still a top 10 no matter where you live.

Popularity is all relative.  I don't consider one in a hundred kids being named Sophia as all that popular, but that's the percentage of girls that were named that last year.  

LisaG09

There were over 30,000 baby girls named Sophia/Sofia in 2012. Certainly popular but if you love it use it. I love it too but too popular for me. Just don't tell yourself that it isn't that popular because you'll be disappointed.

magsugar13

i love it but yes it is very popular in the northeast

i  still love it~!

DanandVan

If you love it, use it! Sophia is a beautiful, classic name that won't be dated (like trendy, popular names will be).
Any ideas for middle names? You could always choose something less popular to make it more unique.

mrskloby

Its very "Disney" now (at least that what it reminds me of the movie)

I know a lot of sophias, and its getting overdone, but if you like it that's all that matters.

scloving713

I know 3 two year olds named Sophia and know of 2 under the age of one. Too popular for my taste

Spin313

I only know one Sophia (young or old). If you love it, use it.

librarygirl123

Thanks for your input, everyone! lots to think about...