Sonja sits next to 3 phonetic neighbors — Sonya, Sonia, and Tonja are the closest matches by sound. Most share Sonja's Russian-origin cluster, so the rhythm and vowel shape carry across the list.
You searched for names like
"wisdom, skill"
"divine protection, helmet of the gods"
"weary"
"bright, shining one"
"short form of Miranda, worthy of admiration"
"pledge, hostage"
"fame"
"home ruler"
"noble, nobility"
"light, torch"
"enchanting, luring"
"free woman, strong"
"pearl"
"worthy, powerful"
"small marsh, swampy area"
"light"
"pure, clear"
"great, venerable, majestic"
"maiden, girl"
Similar sound: These names share phonetic patterns with Sonja — similar vowel sounds, consonant clusters, or rhythm.
Shared roots: Several names on this list have Greek origins, giving them the same cultural heritage as Sonja.
Rhythm: Sonja is a 2-syllable name. Names with the same syllable count tend to feel interchangeable when you're narrowing your list.