Elissa vs Sofia
Elissa and Sofiacompared 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 2024, Elissa was ranked #1021 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Elissa was ranked #873 and Sofia #43 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Elissa and Sofia over time
Elissa and Sofia appear together in 1 published list, across 29 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Elissa in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Elissa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Sofia 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Elissa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Elissa #407 in 2012, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Elissa #1021, Sofia #12.
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 | Elissa | Sofia |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A form of Sophia used across many languages, from the Greek word for 'wisdom'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek, via Sophia |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /soˈfia/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1021 (2024) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sofia has a recorded origin (Greek, via Sophia); Elissa does not have one recorded yet.
- Elissa has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sofia; Elissa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Elissa
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #467 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #407 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1021 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Sofia
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #518 among girls in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #10 among girls in Norway, in 2016 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls