Claire vs Sofia
Claire and Sofiacompared 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 2024, Claire was ranked #1021 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #638 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Claire was ranked #352 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2022, Claire was ranked #86 and Sofia #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Claire was ranked #96 and Sofia #51 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Claire was ranked #407 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Claire and Sofia over time
Claire and Sofia appear together in 4 published lists, across 95 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Claire in 0.
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.
Claire reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Sofia 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sofia moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2011 as Claire fell out of it to #63, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Sofia moved ahead of Claire in England and Wales · Girls — #171 and #214 the year before became #226 and #183.
- Longest-running competitions
Claire and Sofia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 31 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #352 and #23.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1982–2025
Claire held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sofia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Claire #12 in 1982, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order changed in 2010: Sofia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #117 and #130; by 2010 that had become #164 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Claire #352, Sofia #23.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sofia in 25.
Highest recorded here: Claire #90 in 1996, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order changed in 2000: Sofia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #171 and #214; by 2000 that had become #226 and #183.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #1021, Sofia #12.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2022
Claire held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sofia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Claire #40 in 2007, Sofia #23 in 2021.
The order changed in 2011: Sofia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #48 and #52; by 2011 that had become #63 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Claire #86, Sofia #32.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 2004–2024
Claire held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sofia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Claire #97 in 2004, Sofia #44 in 2015.
The order changed in 2007: Sofia moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #121 and #219; by 2007 that had become #147 and #115.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Claire #407, Sofia #70.
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 | Claire | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French form of Clara, from Latin 'clarus' meaning 'clear, bright'. | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Latin, via French transmission | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | /klɛʁ/ | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Clara | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Claire is recorded with a Latin, via French transmission origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
- Claire and Sofia both have 2 syllables.
- Claire's recorded meaning differs from Sofia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Claire a "high" Data Confidence level and Sofia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Claire
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #98 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1984 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Sofia
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #518 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls