Namewise

Megan vs Sofia

Megan 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.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Sofia #17 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Megan was ranked #384 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Megan was ranked #266 and Sofia #56 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2004, Megan was ranked #91 and Sofia #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

Megan and Sofia over time

Megan and Sofia appear together in 3 published lists, across 79 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sofia in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Sofia in none. 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Megan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Sofia #12 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2013: Sofia moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #41 and #43; by 2013 that had become #49 and #30.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Sofia #17.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1991–2025

    Megan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Sofia #23 in 2025.

    The order changed in 2013: Sofia moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #53 and #64; by 2013 that had become #63 and #41.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Sofia #23.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 2004–2022

    Megan held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sofia in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #19 in 2004, Sofia #36 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2014: Sofia moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #45 and #53; by 2014 that had become #54 and #36.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Megan #266, Sofia #56.

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 Megan

Pairs where Megan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Sofia

Pairs where Sofia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Megan, Sofia
FieldMeganSofia
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century.A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'.
OriginWelsh, diminutive of MargaretGreek, via Sophia
Pronunciation/ˈmɛɡ.an//soˈfia/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesMeghan, Meagan, MaeganNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
  • Megan and Sofia both have 2 syllables.
  • Megan'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, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Megan 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

Megan

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1958

    First recorded at #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sofia

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1968–2025

    Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls