Raya vs Sofia
Raya 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, Raya was ranked #82 and Sofia #12 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Raya was ranked #117 and Sofia #22 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Raya was ranked #99 and Sofia #23 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Raya was ranked #70 and Sofia #70 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Raya and Sofia over time
Raya and Sofia appear together in 3 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Sofia held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Raya in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Sofia reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Raya 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.
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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Raya #82 in 2024, Sofia #12 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Raya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 29.
Highest recorded here: Raya #82 in 2024, Sofia #12 in 2024.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raya #82, Sofia #12.
Republic of Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 2010–2025
Raya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 11.
Highest recorded here: Raya #99 in 2025, Sofia #23 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Raya #99, Sofia #23.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 2014–2024
Raya held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sofia in 9.
Highest recorded here: Raya #70 in 2024, Sofia #36 in 2014.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raya #70, Sofia #70.
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 | Raya | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (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); Raya does not have one recorded yet.
- Raya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Sofia.
- A meaning is recorded for Sofia; Raya doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Raya
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2350 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded2014–2024
Highest recorded position: #70 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2014–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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