Namewise

Anna vs Fiona

Anna 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, Anna was ranked #5 and Fiona #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1987, Anna was ranked #10 and Fiona #92 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #23 and Fiona #399 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #26 and Fiona #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1987, Anna was ranked #42 and Fiona #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Anna was ranked #53 and Fiona #638 among girls in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Anna was ranked #142 and Fiona #1362 among girls in England and Wales.

Anna and Fiona over time

Anna and Fiona appear together in 6 published lists, across 205 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 5 of those lists, Anna in 1. 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 1981, Anna moved ahead of Fiona in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #36 and #34 the year before became #36 and #44.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Anna and Fiona averaged 24.9 places apart, ending at #42 and #95.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Anna rose about as far as Fiona fell — from #93 and #59 in 1957 to #10 and #92 in 1987.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Anna and Fiona were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #142 and #1362.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #34 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #325.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Fiona in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Fiona #4 in 1971.

    The order changed in 1996: Anna moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #47 and #36; by 1996 that had become #43 and #47.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #26, Fiona #325.

  • Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1963–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Fiona in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2007, Fiona #207 in 2015.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #23, Fiona #399.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1956–1987

    Anna held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Fiona in 25.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #35 in 1986, Fiona #12 in 1969.

    The order changed in 1981: Anna moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #36 and #34; by 1981 that had become #36 and #44.

    Most recent shared year, 1987: Anna #42, Fiona #95.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Anna held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Fiona in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Fiona #157 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Anna #142, Fiona #1362.

  • New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1957–1987

    Anna held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Fiona in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #3 in 1980, Fiona #14 in 1969.

    The order changed in 1975: Anna moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #22 and #15; by 1975 that had become #23 and #25.

    Most recent shared year, 1987: Anna #10, Fiona #92.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017

    Anna held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Fiona in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Anna #5 in 2017, Fiona #66 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Anna #5, 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.

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 Anna

Pairs where Anna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Fiona

Pairs where Fiona shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Anna, Fiona
FieldAnnaFiona
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah.The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'.
OriginBiblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmissionScottish, feminine of Fionn
Pronunciation/ˈa.na//fi.ˈoʊ.nə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Girls #23 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Anna is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission origin, while Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin.
  • Anna and Fiona both have 2 syllables.
  • Anna's recorded meaning differs from Fiona's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Anna

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1956–2021

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #142 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Fiona

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls