Holly vs Sophia
Holly 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.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Holly was ranked #98 and Sophia #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2020, Holly was ranked #78 and Sophia #28 among girls in New Zealand.
Holly and Sophia over time
Holly and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sophia in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Holly reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Holly in England and Wales · Girls — #25 and #27 the year before became #26 and #18.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Holly and Sophia averaged 55.7 places apart, ending at #169 and #13.
- Mirrored each other
Over 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Holly fell — from #46 and #204 in 1997 to #105 and #8 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Sophia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Sophia #14.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sophia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #25 and #27; by 2011 that had become #26 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #25 and #29; by 2011 that had become #27 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, Sophia #8.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1995–2020
Holly held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 2003, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2010: Sophia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #25 and #26; by 2010 that had become #26 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Holly #78, Sophia #28.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2015
Holly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Holly #19 in 2003, Sophia #10 in 2015.
The order changed in 2005: Sophia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #21 and #31; by 2005 that had become #28 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Holly #98, Sophia #10.
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 | Holly | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /soʊˈfiə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · 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 | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Holly 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
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 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