Laura vs Sophia
Laura 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, Laura was ranked #351 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #253 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2008, Laura was ranked #71 and Sophia #21 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Laura was ranked #90 and Sophia #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #141 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Laura and Sophia over time
Laura and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sophia in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Sophia in 1. 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, Sophia moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2004 as Laura fell out of it to #53, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Sophia moved ahead of Laura in England and Wales · Girls — #67 and #74 the year before became #81 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Sophia in 16.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 2010: Sophia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #30 and #50; by 2010 that had become #38 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sophia in 18.
Highest recorded here: Laura #99 in 2024, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order changed in 2009: Sophia moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #167 and #175; by 2009 that had become #178 and #137.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #141, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sophia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #67 and #74; by 2004 that had become #81 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sophia in 17.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2008: Sophia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #46 and #50; by 2008 that had become #53 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #253, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2009
Laura held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Laura #15 in 1997, Sophia #24 in 2006.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #37 and #41; by 2004 that had become #42 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Laura #90, Sophia #25.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1995–2008
Laura held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophia in 5.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Sophia #21 in 2008.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #32 and #49; by 2004 that had become #53 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Laura #71, Sophia #21.
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 | Laura | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · 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 | high |
What the data shows
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Laura and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Sophia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Laura 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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls