Baby Name of the Day: Sosie

The baby name Sosie fits right in with Sadie, Sophie, and Josie – but it’s very seldom heard.

Thanks to Jane for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.

In French, sosie means double – as in on dit que tout le monde a un sosie. In English, it translates “They say everyone has a twin.” More on that phrase in a bit.

The meaning of the name Sosie depends on the origin, and there’s more than one theory.

Another possible theory: Sosie comes from Susanna. That means it shares the same meaning: lily.

If that seems like a stretch, remember that Susanna comes from the Old Testament name Shoshanna. The Hebrew root shoshan can refer to a lily, a rose, or maybe a lotus flower.

If Susanna – and Susan – seem a little too far from Sosie, then Shoshanna – and even Susie – might be closer and make the nickname seem more logical.

SOSIA, SOSTRATE, SOSE

The Latin name Sosia appears in a play by Plautus, titled Amphitryon, dating to around 200 BC. In this case, Sosia comes from the Greek Sosias, meaning savior, ultimately from a word meaning safe or whole.

Also worth noting: the Latin Sosia was a masculine name.

Greek names Sostrate and Sose are related.

The latter is pronounced the same as Sosie, and belonged to a nymph. Sose is sometimes said to be the mother of the god Pan, known for his flute-playing and wild partying.

A handful of references mention a French Saint Sosie from the 300s, a victim of the Diocletian persecutions. Saint Soteris may have lived in the right era; the feminine name Soteris is also related to Sosia and Sose.

But it’s not Plautus that makes this name feel literary. Not exactly.

Plautus’ play remained popular into the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, inspiring adaptations. It was translated into English quite early.

Fast forward to the seventeenth century.

A French language take on Amphitryon written by French playwright Moliere debuted in 1668.

The play might’ve have been a thinly-veiled reference to the affairs of King Louis XIV. Or maybe it was just an update to a play from antiquity that remained known across the centuries.

In any case, Moliere’s Amphitryon became an instant smash hit.

The character Sosia became Sosie, and part of the story is that Sosie bears a striking resemblance to the god Mercury.

Hence, the phrase and the idea that Sosie means double or twin.

WHAT IS SOSIE SHORT FOR?

If not the Latin name Sosia, or another antique, Sosie could easily be short for Shosanna or even Susanna. (Or a short form of Susan or any other related name. After all, Susie isn’t just a slight vowel sound away.)

It also could be a nickname for Josephine. It’s not a stretch to get from Josie to Sosie, and both Josephine and Sosie share French origins.

But overwhelmingly, Sosie is given as an independent name. 

SOSIE BACON

Born in 1992, the American actress Sosie Ruth Bacon is the daughter of Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick.

The younger Bacon has had a number of roles over the years. Most famously, she played Rose Cotter in 2022 horror movie Smile.

HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME SOSIE?

Despite the name’s literary roots and Hollywood ties, Sosie has never charted in the US Top 1000.

In fact, Sosie debuted in the United States popularity data in the year 2000, with just five births.

Peak usage came in 2023, when twelve girls received the name. In 2024, eleven girls were named Sosie.

That’s quite rare.

It’s not really used as a given name in France, either.

SPARKY and STYLISH

If you’re looking for a baby girl name with the charm of Sadie and Chloe, but far less common, Sosie hits the mark.

While it’s very rare, it’s perfectly in step with the high-energy names we love now.

What do you think of the baby name Sosie?

First published on August 11, 2009, this post was revised on October 29, 2024 and August 30, 2025.