Katherine vs Sophie
Katherine 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, Katherine was ranked #608 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #76 and Sophie #7 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Sophie #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #288 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #334 and Sophie #169 among girls in Norway.
Katherine and Sophie over time
Katherine and Sophie appear together in 6 published lists, across 164 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Katherine in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Sophie 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 1989, Sophie moved ahead of Katherine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #41 the year before became #29 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Sophie changed places 6 times in Norway · Girls between 1972 and 2001, ending at #334 and #169.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sophie in 36.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #83 in 1967, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 1990: Sophie moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #104 and #179; by 1990 that had become #126 and #116.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Sophie #63.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 26.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Katherine #288, Sophie #14.
Norway · Girls21 shared years, 1972–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #323 in 1983, Sophie #162 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #334, Sophie #169.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1984–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sophie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Sophie #7 in 1997.
The order changed in 1986: Sophie moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #37 and #54; by 1986 that had become #42 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #76, Sophie #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1985–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sophie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #25 in 1985, Sophie #8 in 2000.
The order changed in 1989: Sophie moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #27 and #41; by 1989 that had become #29 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Sophie #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 | Katherine | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /sɔ.fi/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sophie has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophie.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Katherine doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #872 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls