Kayla vs Sophie
Kayla 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Kayla was ranked #89 and Sophie #5 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Kayla was ranked #130 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2012, Kayla was ranked #83 and Sophie #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Kayla was ranked #253 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kayla was ranked #171 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kayla was ranked #386 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Kayla and Sophie over time
Kayla and Sophie appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kayla 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.
Sophie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Kayla 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 1993, Sophie moved ahead of Kayla in New Zealand · Girls — #18 and #20 the year before became #30 and #19.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kayla and Sophie averaged 33.0 places apart, ending at #83 and #8.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Sophie rose about as far as Kayla fell — from #38 and #41 in 1986 to #89 and #5 in 2014.
- Longest-running competitions
Kayla and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #386 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Kayla #40 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 2010.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Kayla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 33.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #21 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kayla #130, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kayla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #98 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kayla #386, Sophie #63.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1986–2014
Kayla held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophie in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #18 in 1992, Sophie #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1993: Sophie moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #18 and #20; by 1993 that had become #30 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Kayla #89, Sophie #5.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1985–2012
Kayla held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophie in 26.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #28 in 1990, Sophie #5 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Kayla #83, Sophie #8.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Kayla held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 27.
Highest recorded here: Kayla #40 in 2011, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Kayla #253, Sophie #14.
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 | Kayla | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #130 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Sophie has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Kayla does not have one recorded yet.
- Kayla and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Kayla doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Kayla
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1986–2014
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1986–2014).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #386 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