Catherine vs Sophie
Catherine and Sophiecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #273 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Catherine was ranked #99 and Sophie #7 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Catherine was ranked #90 and Sophie #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #227 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Catherine was ranked #260 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Catherine was ranked #590 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Catherine was ranked #509 and Sophie #151 among girls in Norway.
Catherine and Sophie over time
Catherine and Sophie appear together in 6 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Catherine in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Catherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sophie 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 1986, Sophie moved ahead of Catherine in New Zealand · Girls — #38 and #54 the year before became #48 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Catherine and Sophie changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1960 and 2018, ending at #509 and #151.
- Longest-running competitions
Catherine and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #590 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Catherine #68 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #22 and #14 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #227 and #14.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #2 in 1970, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 1996: Sophie moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #26 and #40; by 1996 that had become #35 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #273, Sophie #6.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1960–2018
Catherine held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sophie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #196 in 1972, Sophie #151 in 2018.
The order changed in 1989: Sophie moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #281 and #542; by 1989 that had become #370 and #297.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Catherine #509, Sophie #151.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #68 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Catherine #590, Sophie #63.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Catherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #22 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Catherine #227, Sophie #14.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1984–2001
Catherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sophie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #37 in 1984, Sophie #7 in 1997.
The order changed in 1986: Sophie moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #38 and #54; by 1986 that had become #48 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Catherine #99, Sophie #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1985–2000
Catherine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Catherine #43 in 1985, Sophie #8 in 2000.
The order changed in 1988: Sophie moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #48 and #50; by 1988 that had become #65 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Catherine #90, Sophie #8.
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 | Catherine | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /sɔ.fi/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sophie has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Catherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Catherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophie.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Catherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Catherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #366 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #590 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sophie
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #492 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls