Namewise

Alma vs Sophia

Alma 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, Alma was ranked #315 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #8 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #211 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Alma was ranked #226 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

Alma and Sophia over time

Alma and Sophia appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Alma 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.

Sophia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Alma in 1. 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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls49 shared years, 1965–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sophia in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #204 in 1978, Sophia #13 in 2023.

    The order changed in 1990: Sophia moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #285 and #353; by 1990 that had become #357 and #221.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #226, Sophia #14.

  • Norway · Girls39 shared years, 1983–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Sophia in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #5 in 2023, Sophia #59 in 2014.

    The order changed in 2003: Alma moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #291 and #261; by 2003 that had become #154 and #350.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #8, Sophia #88.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Alma held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Alma #211 in 2025, Sophia #7 in 2019.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Alma #211, Sophia #13.

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.

Other comparisons involving Sophia

Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All 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.

Norway overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Alma, Sophia
FieldAlmaSophia
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedWisdom.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/soʊˈfiə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSophie, Sofia
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NOAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #8 (2025)New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Alma does not have one recorded yet.
  • Alma and Sophia both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Alma doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
  • The available evidence gives Alma 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

Alma

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Norway, in 2023 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #211 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Sophia

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2011 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls