Ellen vs Sophie
Ellen 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, Ellen was ranked #166 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Sophie #12 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #150 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Sophie #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Sophie #50 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #208 and Sophie #178 among girls in Norway.
Ellen and Sophie over time
Ellen and Sophie appear together in 5 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ellen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ellen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 2021, Sophie moved ahead of Ellen in Norway · Girls — #157 and #172 the year before became #177 and #136.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Sophie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 56 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #208 and #178.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Girls56 shared years, 1960–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sophie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #24 in 1960, Sophie #106 in 2016.
The order changed in 2021: Sophie moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #157 and #172; by 2021 that had become #177 and #136.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #208, Sophie #178.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Sophie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 1997: Sophie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #27 and #29; by 1997 that had become #24 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Sophie #50.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #150, Sophie #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Sophie #17 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Sophie #17.
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 | Ellen | 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 | 2 | 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 #166 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 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); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Ellen 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 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: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls