Olivia vs Sofia
Olivia 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 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #1 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Olivia was ranked #2 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #2 and Sofia #13 among girls in Norway.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #3 and Sofia #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Olivia was ranked #4 and Sofia #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Olivia was ranked #8 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Olivia and Sofia over time
Olivia and Sofia appear together in 7 published lists, across 202 years of shared records. Olivia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Sofia in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2013, Olivia moved ahead of Sofia in Norway · Girls — #21 and #18 the year before became #15 and #20.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Olivia and Sofia changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1975 and 2025, ending at #2 and #13.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 53 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Olivia and Sofia averaged 53.0 places apart, ending at #1 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Olivia and Sofia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 53 years, from 1996 to 2024, ending at #1 and #12.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Olivia #1 in 2012, Sofia #47 in 2011.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls53 shared years, 1996–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2008, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Sofia #12.
Norway · Girls42 shared years, 1975–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 25.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2023, Sofia #10 in 2016.
The order changed in 2013: Olivia moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #21 and #18; by 2013 that had become #15 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #2, Sofia #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls31 shared years, 1982–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #7 in 2024, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #8, Sofia #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Olivia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2014, Sofia #13 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Olivia #3, Sofia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #2 in 2024, Sofia #36 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #2, Sofia #70.
Scotland · Girls17 shared years, 2024–2024
Olivia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2024, Sofia #22 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Olivia #1, Sofia #22.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 2008–2023
Olivia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Sofia in 0.
Highest recorded here: Olivia #1 in 2012, Sofia #47 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Olivia #4, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Olivia | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'olive tree' or 'symbol of peace'. | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | /əˈlɪviə/ | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Olivea, Liv, Livvy, Oliwia | 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 | Norway · Girls #2 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Olivia is recorded with a Latin origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
- Olivia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- Olivia'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 Olivia 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
Olivia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #488 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls