Ada vs Sofia
Ada and Sofia compared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #18 and Sofia #13 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #40 and Sofia #17 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #44 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #45 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #47 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ada was ranked #78 and Sofia #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Ada and Sofia over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ada and Sofia over time
Ada and Sofia appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ada in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2022, Ada moved ahead of Sofia in Northern Ireland · Girls — #55 and #55 the year before became #37 and #56.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ada and Sofia changed places 13 times in Norway · Girls between 1969 and 2025, ending at #18 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Ada and Sofia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #40 and #17.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ada #36 in 2022, Sofia #12 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sofia in 40.
Highest recorded here: Ada #6 in 2019, Sofia #10 in 2016.
The order changed in 2024: Sofia moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #6 and #22; by 2024 that had become #16 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #18, Sofia #13.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ada #36 in 2022, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #40, Sofia #17.
Republic of Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1982–2025
Ada held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 25.
Highest recorded here: Ada #34 in 2023, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ada #45, Sofia #23.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2013–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sofia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Ada #35 in 2023, Sofia #42 in 2018.
The order changed in 2022: Ada moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #55 and #55; by 2022 that had become #37 and #56.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ada #47, Sofia #70.
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 Ada
Pairs where Ada shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristin vs Ada
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #130 and #229 in 1945 to #251 and #18 in 2025.
Kristin · Ada · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Solveig
Over 74 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #229 and #14 in 1945 to #18 and #28 in 2025.
Ada · Solveig · 74 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Christine vs Ada
Over 71 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christine fell — from #253 and #229 in 1945 to #498 and #18 in 2025.
Christine · Ada · 71 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Ada vs Christina
Over 70 shared years in Norway · Girls, Ada rose about as far as Christina fell — from #256 and #307 in 1946 to #18 and #497 in 2025.
Ada · Christina · 70 shared years, 1946–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Sofia
Pairs where Sofia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristine vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #99 and #518 in 1968 to #244 and #13 in 2025.
Kristine · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Linn vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Linn fell — from #156 and #518 in 1968 to #358 and #13 in 2025.
Linn · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Liv vs Sofia
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Liv fell — from #28 and #518 in 1968 to #73 and #13 in 2025.
Liv · Sofia · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sofia vs Åse
Over 58 shared years in Norway · Girls, Sofia rose about as far as Åse fell — from #518 and #57 in 1968 to #13 and #93 in 2025.
Sofia · Åse · 58 shared years, 1968–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs from Norway lists
Pairs measured inside Norway's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Ingrid vs Wenche
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #22 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2008 they were #6 and #621.
Ingrid · Wenche · 58 shared years, 1945–2008 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Torill
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #39 in Norway · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2004 they were #10 and #599.
Anna · Torill · 55 shared years, 1945–2004 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ingrid vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #27 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2006 they were #6 and #583.
Ingrid · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Vigdis
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #32 in Norway · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2006 they were #10 and #583.
Anna · Vigdis · 52 shared years, 1945–2006 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ada | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Germanic names beginning with 'adal' meaning 'noble', such as Adelaide or Adelina. Notably borne by Ada Lovelace, who assisted Charles Babbage with early computer development. | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Germanic | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada is recorded with a Germanic origin, while Sofia is recorded with a Greek, via Sophia origin.
- Ada and Sofia both have 2 syllables.
- Ada's recorded meaning differs from Sofia's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ada
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #229 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #40 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sofia
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #518 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls