Abigail vs Fiona
Abigail and Fionacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Abigail was ranked #48 and Fiona #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #102 and Fiona #638 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #115 and Fiona #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Abigail was ranked #154 and Fiona #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Abigail was ranked #273 and Fiona #399 among girls in Norway.
Abigail and Fiona over time
Abigail and Fiona appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Fiona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Abigail 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Abigail moved ahead of Fiona in Northern Ireland · Girls — #72 and #66 the year before became #81 and #103.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Abigail and Fiona changed places 7 times in Norway · Girls between 1992 and 2025, ending at #273 and #399.
- Longest-running competitions
Abigail and Fiona were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 54 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #115 and #325.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #48 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls54 shared years, 1969–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Fiona in 30.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #36 in 2008, Fiona #4 in 1972.
The order changed in 2003: Abigail moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #68 and #63; by 2003 that had become #54 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #115, Fiona #325.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Abigail held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Fiona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #19 in 2000, Fiona #157 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Abigail #154, Fiona #1406.
Norway · Girls22 shared years, 1992–2025
Abigail held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Fiona in 16.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #246 in 2022, Fiona #207 in 2015.
The order changed in 2025: Abigail moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #353 and #291; by 2025 that had become #273 and #399.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Abigail #273, Fiona #399.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Abigail held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Fiona in 1.
Highest recorded here: Abigail #29 in 2005, Fiona #66 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Abigail moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #66; by 1998 that had become #81 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Abigail #48, Fiona #432.
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 | Abigail | Fiona |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Scottish, feminine of Fionn |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #55 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fiona has a recorded origin (Scottish, feminine of Fionn); Abigail does not have one recorded yet.
- Abigail has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Fiona.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Abigail 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
Abigail
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #303 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — 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: #19 among girls in England and Wales, in 2000 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Fiona
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #87 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #399 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls