Anna vs Sophia
Anna and Sophiacompared 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #85 and Sophia #12 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #125 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2021, Anna was ranked #99 and Sophia #25 among girls in New Zealand.
Anna and Sophia over time
Anna and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Sophia 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sophia moved into the top 50 at #41 in 2003 as Anna fell out of it to #60, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Sophia moved ahead of Anna in England and Wales · Girls — #52 and #60 the year before became #50 and #49.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Sophia changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #19 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Anna and Sophia averaged 54.2 places apart, ending at #125 and #13.
- Mirrored each other
Over 40 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Anna fell — from #14 and #558 in 1983 to #23 and #88 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Sophia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 40 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #23 and #88.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Sophia in 7.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 2021: Sophia moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #14 and #18; by 2021 that had become #21 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Anna held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Sophia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sophia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #52 and #60; by 2006 that had become #50 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #125, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sophia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2024: Sophia moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #14 and #17; by 2024 that had become #19 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Sophia #8.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1995–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sophia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Anna #19 in 2001, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #33 and #35; by 2006 that had become #39 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #99, Sophia #25.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2021
Anna held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sophia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anna #41 in 2000, Sophia #9 in 2019.
The order changed in 2003: Sophia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #50 and #55; by 2003 that had become #60 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Anna #85, Sophia #12.
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 | Anna | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Anna and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Anna's recorded meaning differs from Sophia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Anna a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sophia
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls