Namewise

Ella vs Sophia

Ella 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.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #4 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #11 and Sophia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Ella was ranked #12 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Ella was ranked #9 and Sophia #29 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #46 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Ella and Sophia over time

Ella and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Sophia in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Ella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Sophia in 2. 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 2018, Sophia moved ahead of Ella in England and Wales · Girls — #9 and #11 the year before became #9 and #8.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Ella and Sophia changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1999 and 2025, ending at #11 and #6.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ella and Sophia averaged 27.3 places apart, ending at #46 and #13.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ella and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #46 and #13.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Sophia in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Sophia #13 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Sophia #14.

  • Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1983–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Sophia in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2019, Sophia #59 in 2014.

    The order changed in 1993: Ella moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #590 and #451; by 1993 that had become #351 and #404.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #4, Sophia #88.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sophia in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Sophia #7 in 2019.

    The order changed in 2018: Sophia moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #9 and #11; by 2018 that had become #9 and #8.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #46, Sophia #13.

  • New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1995–2023

    Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Sophia in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #1 in 2007, Sophia #9 in 2012.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #9, Sophia #29.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Ella held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Sophia in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2015, Sophia #4 in 2011.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #12, Sophia #8.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1999–2025

    Ella held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sophia in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2007, Sophia #6 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2023: Sophia moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #7 and #12; by 2023 that had become #13 and #8.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #11, Sophia #6.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Ella

Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Sophia

Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Ella, Sophia
FieldEllaSophia
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English.Wisdom.
OriginGermanic, diminutive formGreek
Pronunciation/ˈɛl.ə//soʊˈfiə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSophie, Sofia
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #4 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Ella is recorded with a Germanic, diminutive form origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Ella and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
  • Ella'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 Ella 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

Ella

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1993–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sophia

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls