Sophia

femaleGreek

Wisdom.

Origin: Greek

Official popularity data is available for 7 regions, from 1965 to 2025. Highest recorded position: #4 in Northern Ireland in 2011. See regions.

Sophia: Recorded since 1965, it reached #4 in 2011, and it was still inside the top 100 in 2025.

7registrars recorded it
215times a registrar ranked it
61years from first to last
#4highest recorded position
34groupings it qualifies for
76names it appears alongside

What stands out in Sophia's record

Ranked inside the top 10 by 5 registrars. Names by top-10 reach
Held a top-100 place for 31 years running. Names by top-100 run
England and Wales registered 2,855 births with the name in 2012, its largest count from any one registrar. Names by yearly birth count
Held at least one birth in every 2,000 for 30 years. Names by sustained share

soh-FEE-ə/soʊˈfiə/

Compare Sophia Run Name Checker on Sophia

Data Confidence

Evidence: HighCompleteness: CompleteEditorial review: 2026-07-21

Confidence in the evidencebehind this name's data — never a rating of the name itself, and never affected by how well it matches your preferences. How this is assessed

Because: backed by officially or academically authoritative sources, recently verified, popularity data covers multiple regions.

Source authority

Averaged from the real per-claim source-authority assessments already computed for this name's meaning/origin/pronunciation/popularity evidence.

Independent corroboration

Averaged from the real per-claim supporting-source counts already computed for this name's evidence.

See full evidence assessment (8 dimensions, 1 not yet tracked)

Source agreement

No recorded source disagreement for this name's meanings or origins.

Recency

Calculated from how long ago this record was last verified (2026-07-21), against a 270-day staleness threshold.

Geographic relevance

Calculated from the number of geographies with official popularity data (7) — broader official coverage means the evidence base is relevant to more of where the name is actually used.

Completeness

Calculated from how many of the expected data sections (variants, similar names, popularity, notable usage, IPA pronunciation) are actually populated for this name.

Direct observation vs. inference

Averaged from the real per-claim direct-observation-vs-inference ratios already computed for this name's evidence.

Identity & variant resolution quality

Cross-source identity and variant resolution requires HEKNO Knowledge, which isn't connected yet.

Name Characteristics

How these are calculated

Descriptive attributes of the name itself — not a confidence measurement, and not an overall quality score. Namewise doesn't approve or disapprove of names.

Pronunciation clarity

Editorial judgement of how consistently this name is pronounced correctly on first read, mapped from an easy/moderate/variable rating to a number. Describes the name — not a measure of evidence confidence.

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling: shorter names with fewer irregular letter clusters score higher. A disclosed formula, not an editorial opinion — and not a confidence measurement.

Recorded regional spread

Derived from how many geographies' official statistics record this name. It measures where the name is registered, not how well-known it feels to people living there.

International spread

Derived from the same official statistical coverage, scaled to reflect how widely the name crosses national datasets. Not a measure of how easily it is understood in another language.

Trend stability

Derived from the name's traditional/modern classification and its current popularity trend direction.

Overview

Origin: Greek
Meaning: Wisdom.
Pronunciation: soh-FEE-ə
Syllables: 2
Common nicknames: Sophie
Classification: Traditional & modern
Gender usage: female
Language family: Greek

Popularity

Region

Rising

among girls in England and Wales · 1996–2025

View as table

England and Wales · Girls rank by year
Year	Rank
1996	#95
1997	#91
1998	#87
1999	#98
2000	#89
2001	#88
2002	#86
2003	#74
2004	#63
2005	#60
2006	#49
2007	#37
2008	#39
2009	#35
2010	#27
2011	#18
2012	#15
2013	#15
2014	#12
2015	#12
2016	#11
2017	#11
2018	#8
2019	#7
2020	#10
2021	#12
2022	#14
2023	#12
2024	#13
2025	#13

VerifiedSource: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales.Confidence: high.

See all England and Wales names · Source: Office for National Statistics — Baby Names in England and Wales

What the data shows

RisingEngland and Wales · Girls

Recorded in official data among girls in Republic of Ireland in 60 of the 61 years from 1965 to 2025.

In 2025: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, #13 among girls in England and Wales, #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, #88 among girls in Norway.

Official data from 7 national registrars across 7 regions, 1965–2025 · Office for National Statistics. Data sources

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
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls

Sophia appears in 6 of the published lists Namewise holds. The longest record is Republic of Ireland · Girls, which has ranked it in 60 years beginning in 1965, and has registered 4,998 births with the name.

Sophia across 6 official records

Each registrar publishes its own list, so these figures are read down a row, never across one. A position in one country is not comparable with a position in another, and Namewise never combines them into a single ranking. The birth counts do not compare across rows either, for a different reason: England and Wales registers roughly thirty times as many births a year as Northern Ireland, so a larger total says which registrar recorded it as much as how widely the name was given.

Sophia's first, highest and most recent recorded position in each official list, with the number of births each registrar registered with the name and its largest single year
Published list	First recorded	Highest	Most recent	Years recorded	Births registered	Most in one year
Republic of Ireland · Girls	#325 (1965)	#13 (2023)	#14 (2025)	60 of 61	4,998 (1965–2025)	316 (2014)
Norway · Girls	#558 (1983)	#59 (2014)	#88 (2025)	40 of 43	1,605 (1983–2025)	107 (2014)
England and Wales · Girls	#95 (1996)	#7 (2019)	#13 (2025)	30 of 30	48,483 (1996–2025)	2,855 (2012)
New South Wales, Australia · Girls	#95 (1997)	#6 (2025)	#6 (2025)	28 of 29	7,128 (1997–2025)	415 (2012)
New Zealand · Girls	#89 (1995)	#9 (2012)	#29 (2023)	28 of 29	3,289 (1995–2023)	209 (2012)
Northern Ireland · Girls	#204 (1997)	#4 (2011)	#8 (2024)	28 of 28	2,187 (1997–2024)	179 (2011)

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Inside a single year a registrar's ranking is its birth counts put in order, so the top of a list is always the name given to the most babies that year. Across years the two separate, because the number of births and the number of names sharing them both change.

In Republic of Ireland · Girls the name reached its highest position, #13, in 2023, when 218 births were registered with it. More were registered in 2014 — 316 — in a year it ranked #15.
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls the name reached its highest position, #6, in 2025, when 286 births were registered with it. More were registered in 2012 — 415 — in a year it ranked #13.

Sophia by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Births registered with the name in each decade of this one list, with the number of years the list covers in that decade. Bars are scaled on births a year, which is the figure that compares between decades — a decade the list only partly covers has a smaller total without being a quieter decade. Figures belong to this registrar alone and do not carry to another.

Births registered with Sophia in Republic of Ireland · Girls, by decade, with years covered and the average per year
Decade	Births registered	Years covered	A year
1960s	24	4 of 10	6
1970s	72	10 of 10	7
1980s	78	10 of 10	8
1990s	217	10 of 10	22
2000s	811	10 of 10	81
2010sbusiest	2,544	10 of 10	254
2020s	1,252	6 of 10	209

Across Republic of Ireland · Girls, the 2010s were its busiest decade, averaging 254 births a year.

Its sharpest single-year move came between 2009 and 2010, when recorded births rose by 71, from 147 to 218.

See the names Republic of Irelandhas recorded the most births with →

Sophia appears in

Groupings this name qualifies for under their own stated rules, from the same official statistics shown above.

What the record shows

Recorded by 7 registrars between 1965 and 2025, ranked in 60 years of that period.

Its highest recorded position is #4, first reached in 2011.

It held a top-100 place in 31 years, 31 of them consecutive.

Its largest count from any one registrar is 2,855 births, registered in England and Wales in 2012.

5 registrars ranked it inside their own top 10.

Its record falls into 2 separate stretches, with a longest absence of 1 year.

A second registrar first ranked it in 1983, and 59 years separate the first registrar to record it from the last.

Every figure here is counted from the seven official registrars Namewise holds. A position is only ever a place within the list that published it, and a record that thins or stops is a fact about what registrars printed — never about how many children received the name.

Sophia was ranked #4 in Northern Ireland · Girls in 2011. These are the names immediately either side of it on that published list — a fact about the registrar's own output, not a similarity judgement.

Where to go next

Records with a comparable body of evidence, so the catalogue can be read outward from this one. Each group states the rule it was selected by.

Next in the catalogue

The records either side of this one alphabetically.

Sonny · #28, 30y
Sonya · #69, 61y
Sophia-Grace · #440, 17y
Sophia-Louise · #3185, 10y

A comparable record

Records held by the same 7 registrars, over a similar number of ranked years, whose highest position is closest to this one. A similar body of evidence — never a claim that the names themselves are alike.

Amy · #4, 60y
Benjamin · #3, 65y
Kelly · #3, 61y
Lucy · #3, 62y

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Records whose earliest ranking in Namewise's registrar data also falls between 1960 and 1969.

Amy · #4, 60y
Tania · #4, 63y
Florence · #5, 61y
Kelly · #3, 61y

Comparisons involving Sophia

Existing comparison pages where Sophia and another name were ranked in the same published list, in the same years, on the same scale. Each has its own evidence; none of them says the names are alike.

Longest shared records

Names ranked alongside Sophia in the same published list across at least 25 years.

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
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
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
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
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
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking

Closest long-running positions

Names that stayed close to Sophia within one registrar's list over many years. A gap measured inside that list, never across registrars.

Sophia vs Poppy
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Sophia and Poppy averaged 8.9 places apart, ending at #13 and #7.
Sophia · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2025 England and Wales ranking
Ava vs Sophia
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava and Sophia averaged 9.1 places apart, ending at #18 and #6.
Ava · Sophia · 23 shared years, 2003–2025 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2025 New South Wales, Australia ranking
Sophia vs Matilda
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sophia and Matilda averaged 9.2 places apart, ending at #6 and #16.
Sophia · Matilda · 22 shared years, 2004–2025 · Closest over the longest run
See the 2025 New South Wales, Australia ranking

Order changes

Pairs where Sophia and another name exchanged position in a published list, taken as the final meaningful change.

Amy vs Sophia
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Amy in Northern Ireland · Girls — #26 and #29 the year before became #29 and #4.
Amy · Sophia · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking
Caitlin vs Sophia
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Caitlin in Northern Ireland · Girls — #28 and #29 the year before became #36 and #4.
Caitlin · Sophia · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking
Sophia vs Cara
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Cara in Northern Ireland · Girls — #29 and #23 the year before became #4 and #23.
Sophia · Cara · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Pairs involving Sophia measured in Northern Ireland's own published lists — the registrar that recorded Sophia at its highest position.

Grace vs Sophia
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Grace #1 in 2013, Sophia #4 in 2011.
Grace · Sophia · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Peaked in the same years
See the 2013 Northern Ireland ranking
Chloe vs Sophia
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Chloe in Northern Ireland · Girls — #11 and #29 the year before became #6 and #4.
Chloe · Sophia · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking
Emma vs Sophia
In 2011, Sophia moved ahead of Emma in Northern Ireland · Girls — #9 and #29 the year before became #16 and #4.
Emma · Sophia · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One moved ahead of the other
See the 2011 Northern Ireland ranking

Northern Ireland overview→

Sophia and the names beside it

Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale, in the same year, by the same registrar — so these are positions that genuinely passed each other, not a similarity judgement. Drawn from the 2,577 names with a recorded popularity standing (common, familiar, uncommon), so a name outside that set could have passed Sophia without appearing here.

Sophia moved ahead of

Amanda
In 2003 they stood at #230 and #230 in Northern Ireland · Girls; by 2004 that had become #95 and #372.
Teresa
In 1999 they stood at #451 and #424 in Norway · Girls; by 2000 that had become #319 and #573.
Barbara
In 1994 they stood at #404 and #367 in Norway · Girls; by 1995 that had become #370 and #615.
Kim
In 1999 they stood at #360 and #331 in Norway · Girls; by 2000 that had become #319 and #556.

Moved ahead of Sophia

Ada Compare
In 1987 they stood at #409 and #444 in Norway · Girls; by 1988 that had become #693 and #363.
Sophie
In 1982 they stood at #300 and #324 in Republic of Ireland · Girls; by 1983 that had become #476 and #260.
Alma Compare
In 2002 they stood at #261 and #291 in Norway · Girls; by 2003 that had become #350 and #154.
Tiril
In 1983 they stood at #558 and #674 in Norway · Girls; by 1984 that had become #528 and #395.

Moved the opposite way to Sophia

Audrey
Between 1965 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #325 to #14 while Audrey went from #73 to #885.
Elaine
Between 1965 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #325 to #14 while Elaine went from #56 to #608.
Hanna
Between 1965 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #325 to #14 while Hanna went from #167 to #273.
Julia
Between 1965 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #325 to #14 while Julia went from #45 to #118.

Moved the same way as Sophia

Amy Compare
Between 1965 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #325 to #14 and Amy from #262 to #138.
Caoimhe
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #226 to #14 and Caoimhe from #380 to #31.
Jessica
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #226 to #14 and Jessica from #380 to #141.
Kate
Between 1966 and 2025 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia went from #226 to #14 and Kate from #380 to #52.

Meaning & Origin

Wisdom.

VerifiedSource: Online Etymology Dictionary, Behind the Name.Confidence: high.

Greek

VerifiedSource: Online Etymology Dictionary, Behind the Name.Confidence: high.

Other names with a researched meaning and origin →

Where Sophia is officially recorded

7 official registrars have recorded Sophia, between 1965 and 2025, in 60 of those 61 years. Each registrar publishes for its own population on its own methodology, so the positions below are each one country's own ranking and are not comparable with one another.

Registrar	Recorded	Years	Its own highest position
Republic of Ireland	1965–2025	60	#13 in 2023
Norway	1983–2025	40	#59 in 2014
New Zealand	1995–2023	28	#9 in 2012
England and Wales	1996–2025	30	#7 in 2019
New South Wales, Australia	1997–2025	28	#6 in 2025
Northern Ireland	1997–2024	28	#4 in 2011
Scotland	2024	1	#6 in 2024

Its high point came 14 years earlier in Northern Ireland (2011) than in New South Wales, Australia (2025).

Variants

Sophie · nickname
Sofia · spelling

Similar Names

No similar names recorded yet for this name.

Similarity is a demonstration score — see methodology.

Spelling

Spelling simplicity

Calculated directly from the name's spelling — see Name Characteristics above.

Common alternate spellings: Sofia.

Pronunciation

soh-FEE-ə/soʊˈfiə/

Syllables: 2
Ease: easy

VerifiedSource: Behind the Name.Confidence: medium.

Where Sophia Is Recorded

National statistical agencies have recorded Sophia in these places. This shows where the name is used — not where it comes from, and not that it carries particular cultural significance there.

New South Wales, AustraliaEngland and WalesNorthern IrelandScotlandRepublic of IrelandNorwayNew Zealand

Notable Usage

No safely-sourced notable usage recorded for this name yet.

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Preview with a surname

Entirely local — nothing you type here is saved or sent anywhere.

Full sibling-set and initials-across-a-shortlist matching is a planned premium feature — see Premium.

Sophia

Sophia at a glance

What stands out in Sophia's record

Overview

Popularity

What the data shows

Popularity journey

Sophia across 6 official records

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Sophia by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Sophia appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Sophia

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Comparisons involving Sophia

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Sophia and the names beside it

Sophia moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Sophia

Moved the opposite way to Sophia

Moved the same way as Sophia

Meaning & Origin

Where Sophia is officially recorded

Variants

Similar Names

Spelling

Pronunciation

Where Sophia Is Recorded

Notable Usage

Sibling & Surname Compatibility

Sophia at a glance

What stands out in Sophia's record

Sophia across 6 official records

Where the highest position is not the biggest year

Sophia by decade in Republic of Ireland · Girls

Sophia appears in

What the record shows

Names published alongside Sophia

Where to go next

Next in the catalogue

A comparable record

Also first recorded in the 1960s

Comparisons involving Sophia

Longest shared records

Closest long-running positions

Order changes

Compared inside Northern Ireland lists

Sophia and the names beside it

Sophia moved ahead of

Moved ahead of Sophia

Moved the opposite way to Sophia

Moved the same way as Sophia