Alma vs Shania
Alma and Shaniacompared 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 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Shania #2006 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Alma was ranked #625 and Shania #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Alma and Shania over time
Alma and Shania appear together in 2 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Shania held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shania reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Alma 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alma and Shania changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2023, ending at #625 and #856.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Shania fell — from #2096 and #848 in 1996 to #211 and #2006 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Alma and Shania were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #211 and #2006.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alma held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shania in 18.
Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Shania #107 in 2000.
The order changed in 2014: Alma moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #684 and #536; by 2014 that had become #629 and #907.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Shania #2006.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2023
Alma held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shania in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alma #410 in 2020, Shania #165 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Alma #625, Shania #856.
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 Alma
Pairs where Alma shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Heidi vs Alma
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Heidi fell — from #188 and #293 in 1945 to #437 and #8 in 2025.
Heidi · Alma · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Kristin
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Kristin fell — from #293 and #130 in 1945 to #8 and #251 in 2025.
Alma · Kristin · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Solveig
Over 68 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Solveig fell — from #293 and #14 in 1945 to #8 and #28 in 2025.
Alma · Solveig · 68 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Alma vs Hanne
Over 67 shared years in Norway · Girls, Alma rose about as far as Hanne fell — from #293 and #123 in 1945 to #8 and #318 in 2025.
Alma · Hanne · 67 shared years, 1945–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Alma | Shania |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #8 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Alma and Shania both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Alma
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #293 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: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shania
Popularity journey
First recorded1995
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1995 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2000
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1998–2000).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls