English
Sonya
Sonya comes from ru,uk Со́ня, from Ancient Greek σοφία ‘wisdom’, and ultimately from σοφός ‘skilled in handcrafts’.
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσοφός‘skilled in handcrafts’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφίαsophía‘wisdom’
- ru,ukmodernСо́няSónja
- Englishearliest quotation 1983Sonya
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Ancient Greekc. 800–300 BCEσοφός‘skilled in handcrafts’
- Ancient Greek, derivedc. 800–300 BCEσοφίαsophía‘wisdom’
- ru,ukmodernСо́няSónja
- Englishearliest quotation 1983Sonya
Earliest quotation: 1983, Sheila Ballantyne, Imaginary Crimes: “It was Valery who had named her firstborn Sonya,…”
The story
It was introduced into English through 19th century Russian literature and taken into general use in early twentieth century.
Linked words
through Ancient Greek σοφός ‘skilled in handcrafts’
Today it means
name A female given name from Russian Соня (Sonja).
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Ancient Greek σοφός / Sonya