Namewise

Isla vs Sofia

Isla and Sofiacompared 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, Isla was ranked #2 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2023, Isla was ranked #3 and Sofia #61 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Sofia #17 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2025, Isla was ranked #4 and Sofia #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Isla was ranked #8 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Isla was ranked #13 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Isla and Sofia over time

Isla and Sofia appear together in 6 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Isla held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Sofia 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.

Isla reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sofia in 2. 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 2007, Isla moved ahead of Sofia in England and Wales · Girls — #93 and #88 the year before became #65 and #81.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 49 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Isla and Sofia averaged 35.7 places apart, ending at #4 and #17.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Isla and Sofia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 49 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4 and #17.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Isla #1 in 2023, Sofia #13 in 2025.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls49 shared years, 1996–2025

    Isla held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sofia in 11.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #3 in 2014, Sofia #12 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2007: Isla moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #93 and #88; by 2007 that had become #65 and #81.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Sofia #17.

  • Scotland · Girls26 shared years, 2024–2024

    Isla held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sofia in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #2 in 2024, Sofia #22 in 2024.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #2, Sofia #22.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025

    Isla held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sofia in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #11 in 2023, Sofia #23 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2017: Isla moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #53 and #42; by 2017 that had become #40 and #43.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #13, Sofia #23.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024

    Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Sofia #36 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2008: Isla moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #131 and #115; by 2008 that had become #95 and #138.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Isla #8, Sofia #70.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 2008–2025

    Isla held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2023, Sofia #13 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2009: Isla moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #72 and #62; by 2009 that had become #34 and #60.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isla #4, Sofia #13.

  • New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 2008–2023

    Isla held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sofia in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Isla #1 in 2020, Sofia #47 in 2011.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2023: Isla #3, Sofia #61.

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 Isla

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

Other comparisons involving Sofia

Pairs where Sofia 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 New South Wales, Australia lists

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

New South Wales, Australia 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 Isla, Sofia
FieldIslaSofia
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA Scottish place name; not generally treated as having a separate lexical 'meaning' beyond the river/place it names.A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'.
OriginScottishGreek, via Sophia
Pronunciation/ˈaɪlə//soˈfia/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesIslayNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Girls #4 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Isla is recorded with a Scottish origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
  • Isla and Sofia both have 2 syllables.
  • Isla's recorded meaning differs from Sofia's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Isla a "high" Data Confidence level and Sofia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Isla

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1979

    First recorded at #467 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

  2. Highest recorded2008–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2023 (recorded 2008–2025).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #4 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sofia

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1968

    First recorded at #518 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1968–2025

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls