Shannon vs Sophie
Shannon 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Shannon was ranked #885 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Shannon was ranked #83 and Sophie #7 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Shannon was ranked #407 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Shannon was ranked #50 and Sophie #15 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Shannon was ranked #1743 and Sophie #50 among girls in England and Wales.
Shannon and Sophie over time
Shannon and Sophie appear together in 5 published lists, across 133 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.
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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Sophie 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 2001, Sophie moved ahead of Shannon in Northern Ireland · Girls — #14 and #15 the year before became #17 and #15.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophie rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #490 and #490 in 1974 to #885 and #6 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Shannon and Sophie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #885 and #6.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Shannon #11 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #1 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #1743 and #50.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Shannon held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophie in 39.
Highest recorded here: Shannon #11 in 1995, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shannon #885, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Shannon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 29.
Highest recorded here: Shannon #11 in 1996, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shannon #1743, Sophie #50.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Shannon held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sophie in 24.
Highest recorded here: Shannon #2 in 1997, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order changed in 2001: Sophie moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #14 and #15; by 2001 that had become #17 and #15.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shannon #407, Sophie #14.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1984–2001
Shannon held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Shannon #31 in 1993, Sophie #6 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Shannon #83, Sophie #7.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1987–1998
Shannon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Shannon #45 in 1993, Sophie #15 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Shannon #50, Sophie #15.
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 | Shannon | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /sɔ.fi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sophie has a recorded origin (Greek, via French transmission); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Shannon and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophie; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Shannon
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls