Matilda vs Sofia
Matilda and Sofiacompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #16 and Sofia #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #150 and Sofia #13 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #19 and Sofia #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #148 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Matilda was ranked #106 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Matilda was ranked #27 and Sofia #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Matilda was ranked #110 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Matilda and Sofia over time
Matilda and Sofia appear together in 6 published lists, across 142 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 3 of the lists they share.
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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Matilda and Sofia averaged 19.6 places apart, ending at #19 and #17.
- Longest-running competitions
Matilda and Sofia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #19 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Matilda #19 in 2025, Sofia #12 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Sofia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #19 in 2025, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #19, Sofia #17.
Norway · Girls30 shared years, 1986–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #145 in 2023, Sofia #10 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #150, Sofia #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 26.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #97 in 2016, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #106, Sofia #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Matilda held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Sofia in 1.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #8 in 2022, Sofia #13 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Matilda #16, Sofia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2004–2024
Matilda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #91 in 2017, Sofia #36 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Matilda #110, Sofia #70.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2009–2023
Matilda held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sofia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Matilda #20 in 2021, Sofia #49 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Matilda #27, Sofia #61.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Matilda
Pairs where Matilda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Matilda vs Layla
Matilda and Layla both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Matilda · Layla · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Mia vs Matilda
Mia and Matilda both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Mia · Matilda · 31 shared years, 1987–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Matilda
Charlotte and Matilda both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Matilda · 33 shared years, 1965–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Matilda vs Daisy
Matilda and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Matilda · Daisy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Sofia
Pairs where Sofia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristine vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #99 and #518 in 1968 to #244 and #13 in 2025.
Kristine · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Linn vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Linn fell — from #156 and #518 in 1968 to #358 and #13 in 2025.
Linn · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Liv vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Liv fell — from #28 and #518 in 1968 to #73 and #13 in 2025.
Liv · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sofia vs Åse
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Åse fell — from #518 and #57 in 1968 to #13 and #93 in 2025.
Sofia · Åse · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Matilda | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'strength in battle' or 'mighty in battle'. | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Germanic | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | /məˈtɪldə/ | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Tilly, Mathilde | 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 | United Kingdom #8 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Matilda is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
- Matilda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- Matilda's recorded meaning differs from Sofia'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 Matilda a "high" Data Confidence level and Sofia a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Matilda
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 recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2022 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sofia
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #518 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls