Sophia vs Stephanie
Sophia and Stephaniecompared 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, Sophia was ranked #6 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Sophia was ranked #13 and Stephanie #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Sophia was ranked #14 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Sophia was ranked #17 and Stephanie #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Sophia was ranked #17 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Sophia was ranked #35 and Stephanie #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Sophia was ranked #89 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.
Sophia and Stephanie over time
Sophia and Stephanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stephanie in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 2002, Sophia moved ahead of Stephanie in England and Wales · Girls — #88 and #87 the year before became #86 and #94.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Stephanie fell — from #558 and #244 in 1983 to #89 and #527 in 2018.
- Longest-running competitions
Sophia and Stephanie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 60 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #14 and #294.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Sophia held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephanie in 38.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #13 in 2023, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #100 and #90; by 2004 that had become #71 and #170.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sophia #14, Stephanie #294.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Sophia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephanie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #7 in 2019, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Sophia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #88 and #87; by 2002 that had become #86 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sophia #13, Stephanie #811.
Norway · Girls24 shared years, 1983–2018
Sophia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Stephanie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #88 in 2017, Stephanie #178 in 1989.
The order changed in 1998: Sophia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #362 and #313; by 1998 that had become #420 and #480.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Sophia #89, Stephanie #527.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Sophia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stephanie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #4 in 2011, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Sophia moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #155 and #100; by 2003 that had become #89 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Sophia #17, Stephanie #391.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2010
Sophia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephanie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #17 in 2010, Stephanie #18 in 1997.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #41 and #36; by 2004 that had become #31 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Sophia #17, Stephanie #73.
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 | Sophia | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Wisdom. | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /soʊˈfiə/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Sophie, Sofia | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Both Sophia and Stephanie share a recorded Greek origin.
- Sophia has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- Sophia's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie'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 Sophia a "high" Data Confidence level and Stephanie a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Stephanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2010
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls