Sheelagh vs Sophia
Sheelagh 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1987, Sheelagh was ranked #446 and Sophia #329 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Sheelagh and Sophia over time
Sheelagh and Sophia appear together in 1 published list, across 18 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Sheelagh 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.
Sophia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sheelagh 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Sheelagh and Sophia changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 1987, ending at #446 and #329.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1965–1987
Sheelagh held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sophia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Sheelagh #243 in 1970, Sophia #226 in 1966.
The order changed in 1982: Sophia moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #432 and #483; by 1982 that had become #523 and #300.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Sheelagh #446, Sophia #329.
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 Sophia
Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2138.
Sophia · Stacey · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2006.
Sophia · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #1362.
Sophia · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Sheelagh | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #446 (1987) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 68/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Sheelagh does not have one recorded yet.
- Sheelagh and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Sheelagh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in IE.
- The available evidence gives Sheelagh a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Sheelagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–1987
Highest recorded position: #243 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1970 (recorded 1964–1987).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent1987
Most recently recorded at #446 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1987.
Republic of Ireland · 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