Emily vs Sonia
Emily and Soniacompared 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, Emily was ranked #6 and Sonia #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2006, Emily was ranked #17 and Sonia #332 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Emily was ranked #34 and Sonia #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1978, Emily was ranked #61 and Sonia #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Emily was ranked #71 and Sonia #421 among girls in Norway.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1977, Emily was ranked #80 and Sonia #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Emily and Sonia over time
Emily and Sonia appear together in 3 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sonia 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.
Sonia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Emily 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Emily and Sonia changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #6 and #718.
- Longest-running competitions
Emily and Sonia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 45 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #71 and #421.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Sonia in 3.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Sonia #163 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Sonia #718.
Norway · Girls45 shared years, 1969–2025
Emily held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Sonia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Emily #47 in 2014, Sonia #276 in 1984.
The order changed in 1988: Emily moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #326 and #299; by 1988 that had become #335 and #430.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #71, Sonia #421.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Emily held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sonia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Sonia #296 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #34, Sonia #1160.
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 | Emily | Sonia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Rival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root). | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛməli/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Em, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, Aemilia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) | Norway · Girls #421 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Sonia does not have one recorded yet.
- Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sonia.
- A meaning is recorded for Emily; Sonia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Sonia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Emily
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #180 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #61 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Sonia
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #437 among girls in Norway in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1978
Highest recorded position: #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1972 (recorded 1967–1978).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #421 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls