Maya vs Sophia
Maya 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #53 and Sophia #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Maya was ranked #19 and Sophia #6 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Maya was ranked #47 and Sophia #8 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #28 and Sophia #13 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #40 and Sophia #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2023, Maya was ranked #72 and Sophia #29 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Maya was ranked #86 and Sophia #88 among girls in Norway.
Maya and Sophia over time
Maya and Sophia appear together in 6 published lists, across 162 years of shared records. Sophia held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Maya in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Sophia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Maya in 2. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Maya and Sophia changed places 8 times in Norway · Girls between 1983 and 2025, ending at #86 and #88.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Maya and Sophia averaged 36.8 places apart, ending at #28 and #13.
- Longest-running competitions
Maya and Sophia were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #28 and #13.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Girls within 2 years — Maya #66 in 2016, Sophia #59 in 2014.
List by list
Norway · Girls40 shared years, 1983–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Sophia in 10.
Highest recorded here: Maya #66 in 2016, Sophia #59 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #86, Sophia #88.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 30.
Highest recorded here: Maya #15 in 2024, Sophia #7 in 2019.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #28, Sophia #13.
Republic of Ireland · Girls29 shared years, 1997–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sophia in 28.
Highest recorded here: Maya #17 in 2024, Sophia #13 in 2023.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #40, Sophia #14.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 2001–2025
Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 25.
Highest recorded here: Maya #28 in 2021, Sophia #6 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Maya #53, Sophia #6.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1999–2024
Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 23.
Highest recorded here: Maya #47 in 2024, Sophia #4 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Maya #47, Sophia #8.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 2003–2023
Maya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sophia in 14.
Highest recorded here: Maya #68 in 2004, Sophia #9 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Maya #72, Sophia #29.
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 Maya
Pairs where Maya shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Kristine vs Maya
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Kristine fell — from #140 and #497 in 1961 to #244 and #86 in 2025.
Kristine · Maya · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maya vs Åse
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Åse fell — from #497 and #40 in 1961 to #86 and #93 in 2025.
Maya · Åse · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Maya vs Tina
Over 61 shared years in Norway · Girls, Maya rose about as far as Tina fell — from #497 and #227 in 1961 to #86 and #488 in 2025.
Maya · Tina · 61 shared years, 1961–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Isabella vs Maya
Isabella and Maya changed places 15 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2025, ending at #122 and #86.
Isabella · Maya · 50 shared years, 1966–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other comparisons involving Sophia
Pairs where Sophia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Stacey
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #97 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2138.
Sophia · Stacey · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Leanne
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #88 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2006.
Sophia · Leanne · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sophia vs Claire
In 1996 they stood at #95 and #90 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #1362.
Sophia · Claire · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.
- Christopher vs Paul
Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Leo
Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Oliver vs Luca
Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries
- Amelia vs Sofia
Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.
Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- 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
Side by side
| Field | Maya | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sophie, Sofia |
| 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 #28 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Sophia has a recorded origin (Greek); Maya does not have one recorded yet.
- Maya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Sophia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sophia; Maya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Maya 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
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 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