Caroline vs Fiona
Caroline 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Caroline was ranked #84 and Fiona #44 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Caroline was ranked #85 and Fiona #75 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Fiona #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Caroline was ranked #370 and Fiona #327 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #392 and Fiona #399 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #1271 and Fiona #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Caroline and Fiona over time
Caroline and Fiona appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caroline in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, Caroline 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caroline and Fiona changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1271 and #1362.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Caroline and Fiona averaged 53.5 places apart, ending at #84 and #44.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Fiona were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #1362.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Fiona #157 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Fiona in 41.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Fiona #4 in 1971.
The order changed in 2025: Fiona moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #504 and #556; by 2025 that had become #381 and #325.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Fiona #325.
Norway · Girls33 shared years, 1963–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Fiona in 1.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #25 in 1992, Fiona #207 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #392, Fiona #399.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Fiona in 21.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Fiona #157 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Caroline moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #1406 and #1406; by 2025 that had become #1271 and #1362.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #1271, Fiona #1362.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1957–1985
Caroline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Fiona in 28.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Fiona #14 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Caroline #85, Fiona #75.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1957–1981
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Fiona in 20.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Fiona #12 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Caroline #84, Fiona #44.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2013
Caroline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Fiona in 10.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #112 in 1998, Fiona #66 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Caroline #370, Fiona #327.
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 Caroline
Pairs where Caroline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Caroline vs Pauline
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #12 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2018 they were #361 and #896.
Caroline · Pauline · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caroline vs Geraldine
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #9 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2021 they were #430 and #883.
Caroline · Geraldine · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caroline vs Bernadette
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #15 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #718.
Caroline · Bernadette · 55 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Caroline vs Jacqueline
In 1964 they stood at #7 and #11 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #381 and #718.
Caroline · Jacqueline · 49 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Fiona
Pairs where Fiona shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Susan vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #279.
Susan · Fiona · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #32 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2010 they were #205 and #663.
Fiona · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #421.
Karen · Fiona · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.
- Frank vs Vidar
Frank and Vidar changed places 36 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #459 and #478.
Frank · Vidar · 77 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Helge vs Rolf
Helge and Rolf changed places 35 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2025, ending at #352 and #437.
Helge · Rolf · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Stein vs Arild
Stein and Arild changed places 34 times in Norway · Boys between 1945 and 2014, ending at #452 and #408.
Stein · Arild · 67 shared years, 1945–2014 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Inger vs Kari
Inger and Kari changed places 33 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #292 and #222.
Inger · Kari · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
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.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Caroline | 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 | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 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); Caroline does not have one recorded yet.
- Caroline has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Fiona.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Caroline doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls