Lara vs Sophia
Lara and Sophiacompared 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, Lara was ranked #131 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2023, Lara was ranked #81 and Sophia #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #110 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lara was ranked #98 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #102 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Lara was ranked #144 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Lara and Sophia over time
Lara and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Lara in 0.
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.
Sophia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lara 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 2005, Sophia moved ahead of Lara in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #27 and #31 the year before became #31 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lara and Sophia changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1984 and 2025, ending at #144 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lara and Sophia averaged 35.5 places apart, ending at #81 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Lara and Sophia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 34 years, from 1984 to 2025, ending at #144 and #88.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1968–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sophia in 44.
Highest recorded here: Lara #80 in 2002, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #102, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1984–2025
Lara held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sophia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Lara #129 in 2022, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lara #144, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Lara #85 in 2022, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #98, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Lara held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sophia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Lara #51 in 2023, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #80 and #89; by 2006 that had become #61 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lara #110, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1999–2023
Lara held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sophia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Lara #25 in 2002, Sophia #8 in 2023.
The order changed in 2005: Sophia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #27 and #31; by 2005 that had become #31 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lara #81, Sophia #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 | Lara | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /soʊˈfiə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #102 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Lara does not have one recorded yet.
- Lara and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Lara doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Lara a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Lara
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #553 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1999–2023
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1999–2023).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #144 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Sophia
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls