Alyssa vs Sophia
Alyssa 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, Alyssa was ranked #171 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Alyssa was ranked #337 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2019, Alyssa was ranked #75 and Sophia #9 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alyssa was ranked #325 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alyssa was ranked #325 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2013, Alyssa was ranked #76 and Sophia #16 among girls in New Zealand.
Alyssa and Sophia over time
Alyssa and Sophia appear together in 5 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Alyssa 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.
Alyssa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Sophia 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Sophia moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2004 as Alyssa fell out of it to #55, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2005, Sophia moved ahead of Alyssa in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #25 and #31 the year before became #34 and #26.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alyssa and Sophia changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1999 and 2013, ending at #76 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alyssa and Sophia averaged 32.6 places apart, ending at #75 and #9.
- Longest-running competitions
Alyssa and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #325 and #13.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #144 in 2004, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alyssa #325, Sophia #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1991–2025
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #172 in 2015, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alyssa #325, Sophia #14.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 2001–2024
Alyssa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #137 in 2016, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alyssa #337, Sophia #8.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1999–2019
Alyssa held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #25 in 2004, Sophia #9 in 2019.
The order changed in 2005: Sophia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #25 and #31; by 2005 that had become #34 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Alyssa #75, Sophia #9.
New Zealand · Girls15 shared years, 1999–2013
Alyssa held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophia in 12.
Highest recorded here: Alyssa #37 in 2003, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order changed in 2004: Sophia moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #37 and #49; by 2004 that had become #55 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alyssa #76, Sophia #16.
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 | Alyssa | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #325 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Alyssa does not have one recorded yet.
- Alyssa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Alyssa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alyssa 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
Alyssa
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #90 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1990–2019
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2004 (recorded 1990–2019).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 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