Hannah vs Sophia
Hannah and Sophiacompared 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, Hannah was ranked #73 and Sophia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #66 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Hannah was ranked #57 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #105 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Hannah was ranked #77 and Sophia #29 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Hannah was ranked #116 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Hannah and Sophia over time
Hannah and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 214 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sophia in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hannah reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Sophia 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 2010, Sophia moved ahead of Hannah in England and Wales · Girls — #29 and #35 the year before became #31 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hannah and Sophia changed places 5 times in Norway · Girls between 1983 and 2025, ending at #116 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Hannah and Sophia averaged 56.5 places apart, ending at #105 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Hannah and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #105 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 58 of those years, Sophia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 2024: Sophia moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #12 and #13; by 2024 that had become #20 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Sophia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #25 in 2005, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order changed in 2023: Sophia moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #86 and #101; by 2023 that had become #91 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #116, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2010: Sophia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #29 and #35; by 2010 that had become #31 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #105, Sophia #13.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2025
Hannah held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sophia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #8 in 1997, Sophia #6 in 2025.
The order changed in 2010: Sophia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #18 and #25; by 2010 that had become #19 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #73, Sophia #6.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1995–2023
Hannah held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sophia in 13.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #2 in 2001, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #19 and #22; by 2011 that had become #23 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Hannah #77, Sophia #29.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Hannah held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #13 and #29; by 2011 that had become #22 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #57, Sophia #8.
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 | Hannah | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈhænə/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| 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 #21 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Hannah is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Hannah and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Hannah'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.
- The available evidence gives Hannah a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Hannah
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #91 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 recorded1978–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #105 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