Alexandra vs Sophia
Alexandra and Sophiacompared 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, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #253 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2014, Alexandra was ranked #83 and Sophia #9 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2015, Alexandra was ranked #89 and Sophia #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #215 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #141 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #212 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Alexandra and Sophia over time
Alexandra and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 193 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Alexandra in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alexandra reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Sophia moved into the top 50 at #31 in 2004 as Alexandra fell out of it to #64, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Sophia moved ahead of Alexandra in England and Wales · Girls — #67 and #74 the year before became #72 and #63.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexandra and Sophia changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1965 and 2025, ending at #141 and #14.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Sophia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 40 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #212 and #88.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 35 of those years, Sophia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #81 and #85; by 2006 that had become #79 and #69.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #141, Sophia #14.
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sophia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #70 in 2004, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order changed in 2011: Sophia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #89 and #115; by 2011 that had become #94 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #212, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sophia in 21.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #67 and #74; by 2004 that had become #72 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #215, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Alexandra held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sophia in 19.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #45 in 1997, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order changed in 2006: Sophia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #70 and #89; by 2006 that had become #80 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alexandra #253, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2015
Alexandra held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #22 in 1999, Sophia #10 in 2015.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #39 and #41; by 2004 that had become #64 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Alexandra #89, Sophia #10.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1995–2014
Alexandra held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #30 in 1997, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2002: Sophia moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #31 and #56; by 2002 that had become #49 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Alexandra #83, Sophia #9.
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 | Alexandra | Sophia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Wisdom. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /soʊˈfiə/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Alexandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Alexandra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexandra a "medium" Data Confidence level and Sophia a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #212 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
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