Girl's name
Fiona
Say it fee-OH-nuh
Scottish Gaelic origin fair, white
3 syllables
Where Fiona is loved, common and rare
Common across Switzerland, Austria and four German cities. Rare in Cologne, Berlin, Slovenia and 12 more places.
1 in 1,760 girls born in Ireland in 2025
Switzerland 47thAustria 51stMunich 80th
LovedCommonRare
Every place
In 21 of the 40 official lists, among them Switzerland (47th), Austria (51st) and Munich (80th).
Show all 21 placesShow less
| Place | Rank | Girls | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Switzerland | 47th 2025 | 122 | 1 in 279 |
| Austria | 51st 2025 | 153 | 1 in 233 |
| Munich city | 80th 2025 | 17 | about 1 in 247 |
| Cologne city | 112th 2023 | 11 | about 1 in 558 |
| Berlin city | 126th 2023 | 26 | about 1 in 558 |
| Slovenia | 204th 2025 | 6 | about 1 in 1,102 |
| Ontario province | 287th 2024 | 44 | about 1 in 1,238 |
| Catalonia region | 311th 2025 | 11 | 1 in 1,752 |
| British Columbia province | 321st 2023 | 10 | about 1 in 1,196 |
| Ireland | 325th 2025 | 12 | 1 in 1,760 |
| Quebec province | 387th 2025 | 13 | about 1 in 2,000 |
| Norway | 391st 2025 | 7 | 1 in 3,114 |
| Northern Ireland | 397th 2025 | 3 | 1 in 2,429 |
| Sweden | 406th 2025 | 17 | about 1 in 2,363 |
| Scotland | 539th 2025 | 5 | 1 in 3,578 |
| Italy | 1025th 2024 | 9 | 1 in 19,908 |
| England and Wales | 1362nd 2025 | 23 | 1 in 11,012 |
| France | 1810th 2025 | 15 | 1 in 19,120 |
| Rostock city | 62nd 2025 | 3 | about 1 in 328 |
| Bonn city | 65th 2025 | 9 | about 1 in 335 |
| Leipzig city | 77th 2025 | 7 | about 1 in 375 |
Rare, below the listed names: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, Hungary and Israel.
Not in a short top list, so no figure: Nova Scotia (top 21), Denmark (top 50), Finland (top 50), Iceland (top 10), Estonia (top 25), Moscow (top 61), Turkey (top 30), Argentina (top 20) and Croatia (top 50).
Germany publishes no national statistics on first names. German figures here are city lists (Berlin, Munich, Cologne, Bonn, Leipzig, Rostock), never the country.
Sources: Bundesamt für Statistik (BFS) / Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS) (Switzerland); Statistik Austria (OGDEXT_VORNAMEN_1) (Austria); Landeshauptstadt München, Statistisches Amt (opendata.muenchen.de) (Munich); Stadt Köln, Standesamt (offenedaten-koeln.de) (Cologne); BerlinOnline GmbH; Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten (LABO) / Standesämter (Berlin); Statistični urad Republike Slovenije (SURS), SiStat (Slovenia); Ontario Office of the Registrar General (Ontario Data Catalogue) (Ontario); Idescat (Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya) (Catalonia); BC Vital Statistics Agency (BC Data Catalogue) (British Columbia); Central Statistics Office (CSO) (Ireland); Retraite Québec (Banque de prénoms, Données Québec) (Quebec); Statistics Norway (SSB) (Norway); NISRA (Northern Ireland); Skatteverket (Swedish Tax Agency) (Sweden); National Records of Scotland (Scotland); ISTAT, Contanomi (Italy); Office for National Statistics (England and Wales); INSEE, Fichier des prénoms (édition 2025) (France); Hanse- und Universitätsstadt Rostock (opendata-hro.de) (Rostock); Bundesstadt Bonn, Standesamt (opendata.bonn.de) (Bonn); Stadt Leipzig, Standesamt (opendata.leipzig.de) (Leipzig). How we count, and every source
About the name
Fiona comes from the Irish word fionn, 'fair, white'. It was popularised by the Scottish writer James Macpherson, and perhaps also by William Sharp, who used 'Fiona Macleod' as a pen name. It is listed as Scottish Gaelic in origin.
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Three syllables, said fee-OH-nuh, with the stress in the middle. Fi is a natural short form. Fionna and Phiona are alternative spellings.
Switzerland and Austria rank it among the top 60, and it is also used in Slovenia. In English-speaking countries it appears in Ontario, British Columbia and Ireland. French records place its peak in the late 1990s, yet it is rising in eight regions and falling in only four, so it continues to find new parents across Europe.
Meaning, origin, pronunciation
- Pronounced
- fee-OH-nuh, 3 syllables
- Meaning
fair, white
- Origin
- Scottish Gaelic
- Other spellings
- Fionna
- Fé
- Phiona
- Foy
- Fina
- Fe
- Ffion
Etymology
From Irish fionn (“fair, white”). In use before 1713. Popularized by James Macpherson, and perhaps by the 19th-century Scottish writer William Sharp, who chose “Fiona Macleod” as his pen name.
From the Wiktionary entry, CC BY-SA 4.0, shortened.
Over time
Over five years: rising in 8 of 19 regions, falling in 4.
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Rank in each place since 1996; higher on the chart is more popular.
Ten years of ranks
Her rank each year, English-speaking regions first. A blank means no published rank for her that year.
| Region | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| England and Wales | 897 | 836 | 936 | 955 | 1267 | 1692 | 1621 | 1108 | 1406 | 1362 |
| Scotland | 413 | 369 | 348 | 765 | 636 | 652 | 358 | 439 | 638 | 539 |
| Ireland | 288 | 241 | 280 | 421 | 544 | 661 | 747 | 279 | 556 | 325 |
| Ontario | 132 | 123 | 142 | 116 | 187 | 145 | 229 | 254 | 287 | |
| British Columbia | 162 | 100 | 158 | 105 | 215 | 191 | 355 | 321 | ||
| Quebec | 402 | 414 | 514 | 388 | 526 | 584 | 351 | 713 | 474 | 387 |
| France | 859 | 1041 | 1270 | 1433 | 1633 | 1957 | 1224 | 1879 | 1841 | 1810 |
| The Netherlands | 788 | 693 | 611 | 763 | 678 | 776 | 868 | |||
| Austria | 126 | 115 | 95 | 93 | 83 | 84 | 80 | 65 | 60 | 51 |
| Switzerland | 60 | 53 | 56 | 50 | 59 | 61 | 57 | 66 | 63 | 47 |
| Berlin | 131 | 79 | 97 | 85 | 97 | 84 | 104 | 126 | ||
| Munich | 121 | 120 | 113 | 120 | 94 | 115 | 119 | 84 | 63 | 80 |
| Cologne | 93 | 118 | 103 | 75 | 86 | 122 | 80 | 112 | ||
| Bonn | 143 | 74 | 67 | 102 | 96 | 98 | 48 | 115 | 98 | 65 |
| Leipzig | 71 | 102 | 93 | 63 | 74 | 73 | 42 | 64 | 75 | 77 |
| Rostock | 75 | 107 | 52 | 97 | 37 | 43 | 82 | 47 | 158 | 62 |
| Norway | 228 | 257 | 326 | 365 | 349 | 237 | 233 | 302 | 289 | 391 |
| Sweden | 256 | 288 | 251 | 328 | 368 | 280 | 319 | 361 | 435 | 406 |
| Catalonia | 273 | 173 | 280 | 346 | 258 | 248 | 390 | 339 | 381 | 311 |
| Italy | 755 | 841 | 1390 | 1025 | ||||||
| Slovenia | 180 | 227 | 204 |
England and Wales, 1996 to 2025
| Year | Rank | Girls | per 100,000 girls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1362 | 23 | 9.1 |
| 2024 | 1406 | 23 | 8.9 |
| 2023 | 1108 | 30 | 11.7 |
| 2022 | 1621 | 18 | 6.8 |
| 2021 | 1692 | 17 | 6.2 |
| 2020 | 1267 | 25 | 9.3 |
| 2019 | 955 | 37 | 13.2 |
| 2018 | 936 | 39 | 13.5 |
| 2017 | 836 | 46 | 15.4 |
| 2016 | 897 | 41 | 13.3 |
| 2015 | 871 | 42 | 13.6 |
| 2014 | 842 | 45 | 14.7 |
| 2013 | 743 | 53 | 17.2 |
| 2012 | 749 | 53 | 16.5 |
| 2011 | 569 | 71 | 22.1 |
| 2010 | 499 | 81 | 25.2 |
| 2009 | 483 | 84 | 26.8 |
| 2008 | 436 | 97 | 30.7 |
| 2007 | 433 | 94 | 30.7 |
| 2006 | 340 | 127 | 42.4 |
| 2005 | 386 | 102 | 35.4 |
| 2004 | 334 | 115 | 40.2 |
| 2003 | 336 | 113 | 40.5 |
| 2002 | 268 | 148 | 55.4 |
| 2001 | 267 | 145 | 54.1 |
| 2000 | 202 | 207 | 75.8 |
| 1999 | 201 | 216 | 76.7 |
| 1998 | 171 | 252 | 87.1 |
| 1997 | 160 | 282 | 96.2 |
| 1996 | 157 | 278 | 93.9 |
Sources: Office for National Statistics (1996-2025), OGL v3.
France since 1925
Half of the babies named Fiona in France since 1925 were born in or after 1998. First recorded in 1961. Her peak year there: 1997, at 196.9 per 100,000 girls.
Babies named Fiona per 100,000 girls born in France, by five-year period. Her 1997 peak is averaged into its five-year period, so the line sits below it.
Sources: INSEE, Fichier des prénoms (édition 2025) (1900-2025), Licence Ouverte / Etalab 2.0.
Sister names for Fiona
1 in 778 in Scotland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 782 in Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 1,193 in Scotland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 1,921 in Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 2,641 in Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 2,982 in Scotland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 2,113 in Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 1,921 in Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 898 in England and Wales
Rose and fell with Fiona.
1 in 1,041 in Northern Ireland
Rose and fell with Fiona.
Middle names for Fiona
1 in 107 in Northern Ireland
Fiona Charlotte
3-2 beats · initials FC
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 2 syllables.
1 in 86 in Ireland
Fiona Sophie
3-2 beats · initials FS
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 2 syllables.
1 in 57 in Northern Ireland
Fiona Grace
3-1 beats · initials FG
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 1 syllable.
1 in 71 in Scotland
Fiona Olivia
3-4 beats · initials FO · Fiona slides into Olivia: vowel meets vowel.
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 4 syllables. Fiona slides into Olivia: vowel meets vowel.
1 in 102 in Ireland
Fiona Mia
3-2 beats · initials FM
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 2 syllables.
1 in 132 in Northern Ireland
Fiona Ruby
3-2 beats · initials FR
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 2 syllables.
1 in 214 in Northern Ireland
Fiona Rose
3-1 beats · initials FR
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 1 syllable.
1 in 173 in Northern Ireland
Fiona Nora
3-2 beats · initials FN
Changes the beat after Fiona: 3 syllables, then 2 syllables.
Same style as Fiona
Names whose popularity rose and fell with hers across regions and decades.
1 in 782 in Ireland
94% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 3,018 in Ireland
94% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 2,347 in Ireland
94% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 1,041 in Northern Ireland
93% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 754 in Ireland
93% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 1,921 in Ireland
93% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 2,641 in Ireland
93% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
1 in 4,225 in Ireland
93% alike: moves with Fiona across countries and decades.
Famous people named Fiona
Fiona Apple, Fiona Shaw, Fiona May, Fiona Graham, Fiona Dourif, Fiona Ferro, Fiona Gubelmann and Fiona Fullerton.
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American musician (born 1977)
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Irish actress (born 1958)
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British-born Italian long jumper born 1969
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Australian anthropologist, geisha (1961–2023)
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American actress and producer (born 1981)
-
French tennis player born 1997
-
American actress (born 1980)
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British actress and singer born 1956
People: Wikidata (CC0), linked to Wikipedia in this page's language when an article exists.
Questions about Fiona
5 questions, on how popular she is, what it means, how to say it, whether she is rising and sister names.
Show all 5 questionsShow less
How popular is Fiona?
Her best rank is No. 47 in Switzerland in 2025, about 1 in 279 girls. She is in the published lists of 21 of our 40 regions.
What does Fiona mean?
Wiktionary glosses Fiona as "fair, white".
How do you pronounce Fiona?
fee-OH-nuh, with 3 syllables.
Is Fiona getting more popular?
Over five years: rising in 8 of 19 regions, falling in 4.
Which sister names go with Fiona?
The deck's top five sisters for Fiona: Melody, Melissa, Leila, Bianca and Lisa. Each is scored on style, era, popularity and origin, with sound clashes flagged.