Amelia vs Sonja
Amelia and Sonjacompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2020, Amelia was ranked #2 and Sonja #3899 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Amelia was ranked #12 and Sonja #907 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #39 and Sonja #35 among girls in Norway.
Amelia and Sonja over time
Amelia and Sonja appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sonja in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Sonja reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Amelia in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Sonja changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2012, ending at #12 and #907.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amelia rose about as far as Sonja fell — from #63 and #2096 in 1996 to #2 and #3899 in 2020.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Sonja were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 35 years, from 1967 to 2025, ending at #39 and #35.
List by list
Norway · Girls35 shared years, 1967–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sonja in 12.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #32 in 2019, Sonja #35 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #39, Sonja #35.
England and Wales · Girls21 shared years, 1996–2020
Amelia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Sonja in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Sonja #1970 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Amelia #2, Sonja #3899.
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1965–2012
Amelia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sonja in 3.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #12 in 2012, Sonja #289 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Amelia #12, Sonja #907.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Amelia | Sonja |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | Norway · Girls #35 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Sonja does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sonja.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Sonja doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Sonja a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Sonja
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #44 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #35 among girls in Norway, in 2025 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #35 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls