Laura vs Sophie
Laura 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 2008, Laura was ranked #71 and Sophie #1 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Laura was ranked #90 and Sophie #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #253 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #141 and Sophie #178 among girls in Norway.
Laura and Sophie over time
Laura and Sophie appear together in 6 published lists, across 218 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sophie in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, Sophie 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Sophie moved ahead of Laura in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #15 and #16 the year before became #20 and #15.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Sophie changed places 12 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #141 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Sophie averaged 28.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #8.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #13 and #14 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2024 they were #253 and #14.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls56 shared years, 1967–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Sophie in 24.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order changed in 2002: Sophie moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #13 and #16; by 2002 that had become #16 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Sophie #6.
Norway · Girls55 shared years, 1966–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sophie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Laura #99 in 2024, Sophie #106 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #141, Sophie #178.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 30.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Sophie #63.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophie in 26.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order changed in 1998: Sophie moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #13 and #14; by 1998 that had become #15 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #253, Sophie #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1985–2009
Laura held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sophie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Sophie #5 in 2004.
The order changed in 1998: Sophie moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #15 and #16; by 1998 that had become #20 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Laura #90, Sophie #8.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1984–2008
Laura held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sophie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Sophie #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 1997: Sophie moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #9 and #12; by 1997 that had become #16 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Laura #71, Sophie #1.
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 | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| 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. | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /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, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · 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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Sophie is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin.
- Laura and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Sophie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
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
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