Sophia vs Willow
Sophia and Willowcompared 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Sophia was ranked #6 and Willow #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Sophia was ranked #29 and Willow #6 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Sophia was ranked #6 and Willow #29 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Sophia was ranked #8 and Willow #44 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Sophia was ranked #13 and Willow #21 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Sophia was ranked #14 and Willow #58 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Sophia and Willow over time
Sophia and Willow appear together in 5 published lists, across 101 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Willow 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 3 of those lists, Willow in 2. 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 2017, Willow moved ahead of Sophia in New Zealand · Girls — #22 and #25 the year before became #23 and #21.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Sophia #13 in 2023, Willow #29 in 2021.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Sophia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Willow in 3.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #7 in 2019, Willow #9 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sophia #13, Willow #21.
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Sophia held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Willow in 0.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #13 in 2023, Willow #29 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sophia #14, Willow #58.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2007–2024
Sophia held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Willow in 0.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #4 in 2011, Willow #24 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sophia #8, Willow #44.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 2009–2025
Sophia held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Willow in 1.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #6 in 2025, Willow #10 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sophia #6, Willow #23.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2010–2023
Sophia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Willow in 7.
Highest recorded here: Sophia #9 in 2012, Willow #5 in 2020.
The order changed in 2017: Willow moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #22 and #25; by 2017 that had become #23 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Sophia #29, Willow #6.
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.
- Sophia vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #13 and #3015.
Sophia · Stacey · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #2253 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #13 and #2115.
Sophia · Leanne · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · 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 2024 they were #13 and #1021.
Sophia · Claire · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Willow
Pairs where Willow shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Willow vs Evelyn
Willow and Evelyn both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Willow · Evelyn · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Willow vs Aurora
Willow and Aurora both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Willow · Aurora · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Charlotte vs Willow
Charlotte and Willow both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Charlotte · Willow · 23 shared years, 2003–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Freya vs Willow
Freya and Willow both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Freya · Willow · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Leo vs Oscar
Leo and Oscar both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Leo · Oscar · 57 shared years, 1951–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Lily vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #3 and #3318.
Lily · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Daisy vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #71 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #18 and #3318.
Daisy · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Rosie vs Rachael
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #77 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #24 and #3318.
Rosie · Rachael · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #3254.
Henry · Ross · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Sophia | Willow |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Wisdom. | From the name of the willow tree, ultimately from Old English 'welig' — an English nature/word name. |
| Origin | Greek | English, a modern nature name from the willow tree |
| Pronunciation | /soʊˈfiə/ | /ˈwɪl.oʊ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #23 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Sophia is recorded with a Greek origin, while Willow is recorded with a English, a modern nature name from the willow tree origin.
- Sophia and Willow both have 2 syllables.
- Sophia's recorded meaning differs from Willow's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Sophia a "high" Data Confidence level and Willow 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
Willow
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #891 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2010–2023
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New Zealand, in 2020 (recorded 2010–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls