Alison vs Sophia
Alison and Sophia 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Sophia #5 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #1719 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alison was ranked #213 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alison and Sophia 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.
Alison and Sophia over time
Alison and Sophia appear together in 3 published lists, across 100 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alison in 1.
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.
Alison reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Sophia moved ahead of Alison in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #83 and #100 the year before became #91 and #71.
- Mirrored each other
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophia rose about as far as Alison fell — from #117 and #325 in 1965 to #213 and #14 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1719 and #13.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1965–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sophia in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #83 and #100; by 2004 that had become #91 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #213, Sophia #14.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alison #1719, Sophia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophia in 6.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Sophia #5 in 2013.
The order changed in 2001: Sophia moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #220 and #282; by 2001 that had become #267 and #230.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Sophia #5.
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 Alison
Pairs where Alison shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Gemma vs Alison
In 1964 they stood at #149 and #146 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #718 and #213.
Gemma · Alison · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Alison vs Cara
Over 60 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Cara rose about as far as Alison fell — from #98 and #344 in 1966 to #213 and #52 in 2025.
Alison · Cara · 60 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Caoimhe vs Alison
Over 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Caoimhe rose about as far as Alison fell — from #380 and #98 in 1966 to #31 and #213 in 2025.
Caoimhe · Alison · 57 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Leah vs Alison
Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Leah rose about as far as Alison fell — from #310 and #98 in 1966 to #55 and #213 in 2025.
Leah · Alison · 56 shared years, 1966–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other comparisons involving Sophia
Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- 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
- 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
- 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
- Sophia vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #1362.
Sophia · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.
- Nora vs Heidi
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Girls, Nora rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #219 and #188 in 1945 to #3 and #437 in 2025.
Nora · Heidi · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Morten
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Morten fell — from #141 and #107 in 1945 to #16 and #214 in 2025.
Henrik · Morten · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Henrik vs Nils
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Nils fell — from #141 and #26 in 1945 to #16 and #61 in 2025.
Henrik · Nils · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Peter vs Henrik
Over 81 shared years in Norway · Boys, Henrik rose about as far as Peter fell — from #106 and #141 in 1945 to #174 and #16 in 2025.
Peter · Henrik · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · 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 | Alison | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alison 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
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls