Megan vs Sophia
Megan 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, Megan was ranked #384 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Megan was ranked #266 and Sophia #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Megan was ranked #91 and Sophia #31 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Megan was ranked #97 and Sophia #35 among girls in New Zealand.
Megan and Sophia over time
Megan and Sophia appear together in 4 published lists, across 113 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sophia 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 4 of those lists, and Sophia 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #23 and #27 the year before became #29 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Megan and Sophia changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #352 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Sophia in 20.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Sophia #14.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sophia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #23 and #27; by 2011 that had become #29 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Megan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #27 and #29; by 2011 that had become #32 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Megan #266, Sophia #14.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1995–2005
Megan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophia in 4.
Highest recorded here: Megan #33 in 1997, Sophia #34 in 2004.
The order changed in 2002: Sophia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #51 and #56; by 2002 that had become #59 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Megan #97, Sophia #35.
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 | Megan | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (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 | high | high |
What the data shows
- Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin, while Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Megan and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- Megan'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Megan
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 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