Isabella vs Sophia
Isabella 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, Isabella was ranked #17 and Sophia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #50 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Isabella was ranked #44 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #10 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #48 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Isabella was ranked #15 and Sophia #29 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Isabella was ranked #122 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Isabella and Sophia over time
Isabella and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Isabella held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sophia in 2.
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.
Isabella reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Sophia in 1. 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 2018, Sophia moved ahead of Isabella in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #11 and #15 the year before became #12 and #11.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Isabella and Sophia changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1999 and 2024, ending at #44 and #8.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isabella and Sophia averaged 14.2 places apart, ending at #10 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Isabella and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #10 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1965–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sophia in 40.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #41 in 2014, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #48, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Sophia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #42 in 2010, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #122, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sophia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #6 in 2016, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #10, Sophia #13.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2025
Isabella held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sophia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #1 in 2007, Sophia #6 in 2025.
The order changed in 2018: Sophia moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #11 and #15; by 2018 that had become #12 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabella #17, Sophia #6.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1995–2023
Isabella held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sophia in 2.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #4 in 2008, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2015: Isabella moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #11 and #9; by 2015 that had become #10 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Isabella #15, Sophia #29.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2024
Isabella held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Isabella #27 in 2019, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Isabella #44, 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 | Isabella | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | My God is an oath (via Elizabeth). | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɪzəˈbɛlə/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Bella, Izzy, Isabel, Isobel | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #10 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Isabella is recorded with a Spanish/Italian, via Elizabeth origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Isabella has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- Isabella'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.
How each name got here
Isabella
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #472 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 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