Maya vs Sofia
Maya 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, Maya was ranked #15 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #53 and Sofia #13 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #86 and Sofia #13 among girls in Norway.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maya was ranked #19 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #40 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maya was ranked #47 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Maya was ranked #72 and Sofia #61 among girls in New Zealand.
Maya and Sofia over time
Maya and Sofia appear together in 6 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Maya in 0.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 2011, Sofia moved ahead of Maya in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #46 and #52 the year before became #39 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maya and Sofia changed places 4 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 2004 and 2024, ending at #47 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maya and Sofia averaged 21.0 places apart, ending at #15 and #12.
- Longest-running competitions
Maya and Sofia were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 57 years, from 1968 to 2025, ending at #86 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Maya #15 in 2024, Sofia #12 in 2024.
List by list
Norway · Girls57 shared years, 1968–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sofia in 54.
Highest recorded here: Maya #66 in 2016, Sofia #10 in 2016.
The order changed in 2005: Sofia moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #95 and #128; by 2005 that had become #85 and #71.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #86, Sofia #13.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Maya held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sofia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Maya #15 in 2024, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #15, Sofia #12.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sofia in 21.
Highest recorded here: Maya #17 in 2024, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #40, Sofia #23.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 2004–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sofia in 15.
Highest recorded here: Maya #28 in 2021, Sofia #13 in 2025.
The order changed in 2011: Sofia moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #46 and #52; by 2011 that had become #39 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #53, Sofia #13.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 2004–2024
Maya held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sofia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Maya #47 in 2024, Sofia #36 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #47, Sofia #70.
New Zealand · Girls9 shared years, 2008–2023
Maya held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sofia in 8.
Highest recorded here: Maya #72 in 2023, Sofia #49 in 2022.
The order changed in 2010: Sofia moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #76 and #88; by 2010 that had become #91 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Maya #72, Sofia #61.
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 | Maya | 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 | 1 | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #40 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #13 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sofia has a recorded origin (Greek, via Sophia); Maya does not have one recorded yet.
- Maya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sofia; Maya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Maya
Popularity journey
First recorded1961
First recorded at #497 among girls in Norway in 1961 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #53 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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