Imogen vs Sophia
Imogen 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, Imogen was ranked #97 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #119 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #86 and Sophia #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #64 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Imogen was ranked #483 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2022, Imogen was ranked #81 and Sophia #32 among girls in New Zealand.
Imogen and Sophia over time
Imogen and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Imogen in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Imogen 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 Imogen in England and Wales · Girls — #26 and #27 the year before became #32 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Imogen and Sophia changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #64 and #13.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Imogen and Sophia averaged 23.2 places apart, ending at #64 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Imogen and Sophia were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #483 and #14.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1979–2025
Imogen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 33.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #255 in 2020, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Imogen #483, Sophia #14.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sophia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #26 in 2010, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #26 and #27; by 2011 that had become #32 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #64, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #103 in 2007, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2002: Sophia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #191 and #230; by 2002 that had become #227 and #155.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #119, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #33 in 2013, Sophia #8 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #86, Sophia #9.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2005–2022
Imogen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #56 in 2009, Sophia #9 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Imogen #81, Sophia #32.
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 | Imogen | 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 | Not yet recorded | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #483 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Imogen does not have one recorded yet.
- Imogen has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Imogen 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 Imogen 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
Imogen
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #523 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — 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: #26 among girls in England and Wales, in 2010 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls