Ada vs Sofia
Ada and Sofiacompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ada was ranked #40 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ada was ranked #18 and Sofia #13 among girls in Norway.
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
Ada and Sofia appear together in 4 published lists, across 120 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 Norway · Girls for 54 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #18 and #13.
- 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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ada held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 29.
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, 2024: Ada #40, Sofia #12.
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.
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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| 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 #18 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls