Elsie vs Sophia
Elsie and Sophia compared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #24 and Sophia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #31 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #8 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Elsie was ranked #27 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #55 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Elsie was ranked #74 and Sophia #29 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Elsie was ranked #371 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Elsie and Sophia over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Elsie and Sophia over time
Elsie and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Elsie 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.
Sophia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Elsie 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 2024, Elsie moved ahead of Sophia in England and Wales · Girls — #14 and #12 the year before became #10 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Elsie and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #8 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Elsie #24 in 2025, Sophia #6 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sophia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #8 in 2025, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2024: Elsie moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #14 and #12; by 2024 that had become #10 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #8, Sophia #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1973–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #55 in 2025, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #55, Sophia #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 2007–2024
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #27 in 2024, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elsie #27, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 2013–2025
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #24 in 2025, Sophia #6 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Elsie #24, Sophia #6.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 2015–2023
Elsie held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 8.
Highest recorded here: Elsie #53 in 2022, Sophia #19 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Elsie #74, Sophia #29.
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 Elsie
Pairs where Elsie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Elsie vs Aria
Elsie and Aria both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Elsie · Aria · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Harper vs Elsie
Harper and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Harper · Elsie · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mila vs Elsie
Mila and Elsie both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mila · Elsie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ada vs Elsie
Ada and Elsie both rose over the same years in 3 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ada · Elsie · 32 shared years, 1964–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Sophia
Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2138.
Sophia · Stacey · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2006.
Sophia · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #1362.
Sophia · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Elsie | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Shares the root meaning of Elizabeth: 'my God is an oath', inherited via the Scots form Elspeth. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Scottish, via Elizabeth | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛlsi/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Elspeth | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #8 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Elsie is recorded with a Scottish, via Elizabeth origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Elsie and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Elsie'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.
How each name got here
Elsie
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #301 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sophia
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls