Katharina vs Sofia
Katharina 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2022, Katharina was ranked #449 and Sofia #16 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Katharina was ranked #4764 and Sofia #47 among girls in England and Wales.
Katharina and Sofia over time
Katharina and Sofia appear together in 2 published lists, across 63 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Katharina in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Katharina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sofia 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katharina and Sofia changed places 11 times in Norway · Girls between 1968 and 2022, ending at #449 and #16.
- Longest-running competitions
Katharina and Sofia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 48 years, from 1968 to 2022, ending at #449 and #16.
List by list
Norway · Girls48 shared years, 1968–2022
Katharina held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Sofia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Katharina #203 in 1988, Sofia #16 in 2022.
The order changed in 1997: Sofia moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #259 and #278; by 1997 that had become #234 and #214.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Katharina #449, Sofia #16.
England and Wales · Girls15 shared years, 1996–2011
Katharina held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Katharina #1666 in 1997, Sofia #47 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Katharina #4764, Sofia #47.
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 Sofia
Pairs where Sofia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristine vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #99 and #518 in 1968 to #244 and #13 in 2025.
Kristine · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Linn vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Linn fell — from #156 and #518 in 1968 to #358 and #13 in 2025.
Linn · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Liv vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Liv fell — from #28 and #518 in 1968 to #73 and #13 in 2025.
Liv · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sofia vs Åse
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Åse fell — from #518 and #57 in 1968 to #13 and #93 in 2025.
Sofia · Åse · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Katharina | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #449 (2022) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sofia has a recorded origin (Greek, via Sophia); Katharina does not have one recorded yet.
- Katharina has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sofia; Katharina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Katharina
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #507 among girls in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–2022
Highest recorded position: #203 among girls in Norway, in 1988 (recorded 1962–2022).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2022
Most recently recorded at #449 among girls in Norway, in 2022.
Norway · Girls
Sofia
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls