Anne vs Sofie
Anne and Sofiecompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #159 and Sofie #6 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Anne was ranked #358 and Sofie #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Anne was ranked #544 and Sofie #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Anne was ranked #1036 and Sofie #2574 among girls in England and Wales.
Anne and Sofie over time
Anne and Sofie appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Anne held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sofie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Anne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sofie in none. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Sofie moved ahead of Anne in Norway · Girls — #25 and #33 the year before became #31 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anne and Sofie changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1036 and #2574.
- Longest-running competitions
Anne and Sofie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 69 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #159 and #6.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Anne #432 in 1996, Sofie #701 in 1998.
List by list
Norway · Girls69 shared years, 1945–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Sofie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Anne #1 in 1945, Sofie #2 in 2013.
The order changed in 1997: Sofie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #25 and #33; by 1997 that had become #31 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #159, Sofie #6.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anne held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sofie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Anne #432 in 1996, Sofie #701 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anne #1036, Sofie #2574.
Republic of Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1996–2025
Anne held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sofie in 2.
Highest recorded here: Anne #68 in 1996, Sofie #471 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anne #544, Sofie #718.
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 | Anne | Sofie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Anna, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' carrying the sense of grace or favour. Imported to England in the 13th century but not popular until three centuries later. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew, via French transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑː.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Ann, Ane, Anna | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #159 (2025) | Norway · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Anne has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via French transmission); Sofie does not have one recorded yet.
- Anne and Sofie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anne; Sofie doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Anne a "high" Data Confidence level and Sofie a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Anne
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #1 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: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #159 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sofie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 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: #2 among girls in Norway, in 2013 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls