Julia vs Sophie
Julia and Sophiecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #118 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Julia was ranked #83 and Sophie #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Julia was ranked #81 and Sophie #7 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #212 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #188 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #223 and Sophie #50 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #85 and Sophie #178 among girls in Norway.
Julia and Sophie over time
Julia and Sophie appear together in 6 published lists, across 198 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Julia in 1.
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.
Julia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Sophie 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Sophie moved into the top 50 at #41 in 1986 as Julia fell out of it to #54, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1986, Sophie moved ahead of Julia in New Zealand · Girls — #45 and #54 the year before became #54 and #41.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julia and Sophie changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1967 and 2025, ending at #118 and #6.
- Mirrored each other
Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophie rose about as far as Julia fell — from #58 and #354 in 1967 to #118 and #6 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Sophie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 56 years, from 1960 to 2025, ending at #85 and #178.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Julia #68 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 2010.
List by list
Norway · Girls56 shared years, 1960–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Sophie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Julia #32 in 2013, Sophie #106 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #85, Sophie #178.
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sophie in 38.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 1990: Sophie moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #148 and #179; by 1990 that had become #157 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #118, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #223, Sophie #50.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 28.
Highest recorded here: Julia #68 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #212, Sophie #14.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1984–2001
Julia held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sophie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Julia #39 in 1984, Sophie #6 in 2000.
The order changed in 1986: Sophie moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #45 and #54; by 1986 that had become #54 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Julia #81, Sophie #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1985–2002
Julia held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 13.
Highest recorded here: Julia #70 in 1999, Sophie #7 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Julia #83, Sophie #7.
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 | Julia | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | /sɔ.fi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia is recorded with a The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to origin, while Sophie is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin.
- Julia and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- Julia's recorded meaning differs from Sophie'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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sophie
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #492 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls