Sofia or Sophia

[Charlotte2411]

I’m 2 weeks post partum and finally decided on the name Sofia for our daughter. Have been feeling emotional every day since birth and this really didn’t help with decision making. The fog has lifted a bit now and I really think she suits Sofia.

However, the reaction from family is that they’re a bit confused about the spelling and one mentioned about it being the capital of Bulgaria.

We chose Sofia with an F as we thought it made a very popular name a little bit different, we prefer the look of it and may be less likely to get shortened to ‘Soph’ which I’m not a huge fan of. We don’t have connections to Italy or Spain etc where Sofia is widely used, but equally we don’t have Greek connections to Sophia either.

But people’s reactions are making me think it could be seen as an odd choice and should we just change it to Sophia? We’re registering her next week.

Am I way overthinking this!?

Sofia will likely
get shortened to sofa

Both spellings are popular - Sophia was no. 4 last year, and Sofia no. 22, so neither is exactly outlandish.

But the latter does make me think "Bulgarian capital".

Also, she (and all the other Sofias) will most likely have to constantly correct people's spelling.

Sofia is a beautiful name and spelling. I know many of different nationalities where it’s spelt with an F. Spanish, German, Russian. Never in my life have I seen it shortened to Sofa…

Congratulations!

Both spellings are popular. Sophia has been popular for about 20 years.

Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and is one letter away from Sofa, and she'll be 'Sofia with an F' or Sofia Surname.

You have a few more weeks to decide, but it's a nice enough name.

I like it! For some reason I like the 'f' instead of the 'ph', don't know why though. It doesn't make me think of Bulgaria either. A lovely name.

I think Sofia is really pretty!

I personally prefer Sophia but if you two like Sofia then just ignore what anybody else says.

Don't burden your poor daughter with an unconventional spelling. Unless you are Bulgarian, go with Sophia

I know they are supposed to be the same but I read that as Sophie-ah or soph-ear. That's how I sound them due to spelling! I think Sophia is a prettier spelling.

Either, I think Sofia is currently more trendy but was previously more if you came from Spain, Italy, Portugal. Plus I did also think of the city in Bulgaria. Sophia and Sophie are the English and French versions respectively

Personally think it's nicer than Sophia. Knew a Sofia in school, never got made fun of or compared to 'sofa' (?) and was never called anything other than Sofia/Sofia with an F which is not a big deal.

We have a Sofia in our family (Britalians) and it’s always misspelt as Sophia by others. Best go with -ph for an easy life!

I prefer Sophia

My daughter is Sophia. It was nearly Sofia. My ex is Asian and we wanted a name that was popular in Britain but also was also popular in his culture too. So this is how we settled on the name. As she had his second name we went with Sophia. The name is super popular now. At the time I didn’t know any Sophia’s now there’s 3 in her year 😂 either way it’s the same name. You chose how you wanna spell it x

I prefer the look of Sophia, and it would avoid her constantly explaining it's "Sofia with an f". The Sofia spelling is actually nearly as popular as Sophia now, perhaps because of its' international appeal, but I think most people in the UK would still automatically assume Sophia.

Obviously it's up to you though.

It’s a beautiful name. The spelling is completely fine!
It will always get shortened by someone to Soph though…

Much prefer Sofia

I have a Sofia !! I also love Sophia !
I am glad we chose Sofia. No one has ever called her Sofa ( what a stupid comment ).

we call her Fia sometimes or Sofieeee or Soph.

people spell it ‘Sophia’ sometimes, but just sometimes. Never at school or anything.

I love both, but seeing as we have Italian heritage, I think Sofia is a bit more fitting and Sofia is definitely less used than Sophia. I love Sofia so much. It’s so elegant.

She might get Fia as nn

Sofia looks to me like an updated version of Sophia.
I prefer the spelling Sofia.

Unless you are pronouncing it the same way as the Bulgarian capital (which is stress on the first syllable SOF-ee-ah), I wouldn't automatically associate the spelling of the name Sofia with the Bulgarian capital.

@hoxtonE1 , it's not an updated spelling.

Tbh either will get shorten to Soph and neither will get called Sofa 🙄
I FAR prefer the F spelling and find the PH spelling really stuffy and dull.

Same with Stephen/Steven tbh. You can just imagine Stephen’s mum getting all het up if it was ever spelled with a V, but Steven’s mum would be cool and not care a bit.

Sophia I prefer and don't worry nobody will be calling her sofa 🤣🤣🤣