Namewise

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.

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 Gemma

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

Other comparisons involving Sophie

Pairs where Sophie 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 — peaked in the same years.

All peaked in the same years→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

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 Gemma, Sophie
FieldGemmaSophie
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek, via French transmission
Pronunciation/sɔ.fi/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #718 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1982–2008

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1982–2008).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sophie

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls