Ava vs Sophie
Ava and Sophiecompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #26 and Sophie #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Ava was ranked #8 and Sophie #14 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #11 and Sophie #63 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #11 and Sophie #17 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ava was ranked #32 and Sophie #14 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #18 and Sophie #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Ava was ranked #143 and Sophie #178 among girls in Norway.
Ava and Sophie over time
Ava and Sophie appear together in 6 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Sophie held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ava in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sophie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Ava 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Ava moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #9 and #6 the year before became #6 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ava and Sophie changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1999 and 2025, ending at #143 and #178.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava and Sophie averaged 12.7 places apart, ending at #18 and #22.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Ava rose about as far as Sophie fell — from #80 and #11 in 2003 to #18 and #22 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ava and Sophie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #11 and #63.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Ava #1 in 2008, Sophie #1 in 2009.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1978–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sophie in 42.
Highest recorded here: Ava #1 in 2008, Sophie #1 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #26, Sophie #6.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sophie in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2018, Sophie #1 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Ava moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #9 and #6; by 2012 that had become #6 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #11, Sophie #63.
Norway · Girls26 shared years, 1999–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sophie in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ava #104 in 2020, Sophie #106 in 2016.
The order changed in 2025: Ava moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #134 and #124; by 2025 that had become #143 and #178.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #143, Sophie #178.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2024
Ava held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophie in 24.
Highest recorded here: Ava #9 in 2016, Sophie #1 in 2010.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ava #32, Sophie #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 2003–2025
Ava held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sophie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ava #3 in 2017, Sophie #5 in 2004.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ava #18, Sophie #22.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 2003–2023
Ava held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sophie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ava #5 in 2017, Sophie #1 in 2008.
The order changed in 2020: Ava moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #10 and #6; by 2020 that had become #7 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ava #8, Sophie #14.
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 Ava
Pairs where Ava shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Ava
Ella and Ava changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1981 and 2025, ending at #17 and #26.
Ella · Ava · 43 shared years, 1981–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Ava vs Zara
Ava and Zara both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Zara · 45 shared years, 1978–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Daisy
Ava and Daisy both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New Zealand · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Daisy · 36 shared years, 1985–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Ava vs Layla
Ava and Layla both rose over the same years in 4 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Ava · Layla · 35 shared years, 1983–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other comparisons involving Sophie
Pairs where Sophie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sophie vs Shannon
In 1996 they stood at #1 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #63 and #2138.
Sophie · Shannon · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophie vs Nicole
In 1997 they stood at #14 and #16 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #14 and #407.
Sophie · Nicole · 27 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophie vs Aisling
Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophie rose about as far as Aisling fell — from #354 and #107 in 1967 to #6 and #180 in 2025.
Sophie · Aisling · 56 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Sophie vs Alison
Over 56 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Sophie rose about as far as Alison fell — from #354 and #88 in 1967 to #6 and #213 in 2025.
Sophie · Alison · 56 shared years, 1967–2025 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.
- Amelia vs Emily
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #5 and #3 the year before became #1 and #5.
Amelia · Emily · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Amelia vs Sophie
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #5 and #2 the year before became #1 and #6.
Amelia · Sophie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales'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 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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ava | Sophie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | The French form of Sophia, from Ancient Greek 'sophia' meaning 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve | Greek, via French transmission |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪvə/ | /sɔ.fi/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 | England and Wales · Girls #11 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ava is recorded with a Disputed — possibly Germanic, possibly a short form of Eve origin, while Sophie is recorded with a Greek, via French transmission origin.
- Ava and Sophie both have 2 syllables.
- Ava's recorded meaning differs from Sophie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ava
Popularity journey
First recorded1978
First recorded at #522 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1978 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1978–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1978–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sophie
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #492 among girls in Norway in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #63 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls