Gemma vs Sophie
Gemma 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Gemma was ranked #60 and Sophie #1 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2016, Gemma was ranked #353 and Sophie #5 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #718 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Gemma was ranked #80 and Sophie #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Gemma was ranked #4867 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Gemma and Sophie over time
Gemma and Sophie appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Gemma 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.
Gemma 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 1986, Sophie moved ahead of Gemma in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #61 and #62 the year before became #65 and #63.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Gemma and Sophie averaged 59.1 places apart, ending at #80 and #11.
- Longest-running competitions
Gemma and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Gemma #50 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sophie in 31.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #36 in 1992, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 1995: Sophie moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #54 and #58; by 1995 that had become #58 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #718, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #50 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gemma #4867, Sophie #63.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1985–2010
Gemma held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophie in 23.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #47 in 1991, Sophie #5 in 2004.
The order changed in 1986: Sophie moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #61 and #62; by 1986 that had become #65 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Gemma #80, Sophie #11.
New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1984–2008
Gemma held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sophie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #17 in 1984, Sophie #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1988: Sophie moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #29 and #38; by 1988 that had become #48 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Gemma #60, Sophie #1.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2016
Gemma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gemma #35 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Gemma #353, Sophie #5.
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 | Gemma | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #718 (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); Gemma does not have one recorded yet.
- Gemma and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Gemma doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Gemma
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 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 recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls