Charlotte vs Fiona
Charlotte 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, Charlotte was ranked #9 and Fiona #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Charlotte was ranked #10 and Fiona #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #25 and Fiona #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1987, Charlotte was ranked #37 and Fiona #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #43 and Fiona #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Charlotte was ranked #162 and Fiona #399 among girls in Norway.
Charlotte and Fiona over time
Charlotte and Fiona appear together in 5 published lists, across 158 years of shared records. Charlotte held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fiona in 2.
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, Charlotte 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Charlotte moved into the top 50 at #48 in 1982 as Fiona fell out of it to #51, having been #37 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Charlotte moved ahead of Fiona in New Zealand · Girls — #59 and #37 the year before became #48 and #51.
- Longest-running competitions
Charlotte and Fiona were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #25 and #1362.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #9 and #432.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Fiona in 39.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #39 in 2018, Fiona #4 in 1971.
The order changed in 2003: Charlotte moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #91 and #63; by 2003 that had become #72 and #80.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #43, Fiona #325.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1963–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Fiona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #15 in 1992, Fiona #207 in 2015.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #162, Fiona #399.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Charlotte held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Fiona in 0.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #5 in 2000, Fiona #157 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Charlotte #25, Fiona #1362.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Charlotte held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Fiona in 1.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #9 in 2017, Fiona #66 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #72 and #66; by 1998 that had become #44 and #103.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Charlotte #9, Fiona #432.
New Zealand · Girls14 shared years, 1974–1987
Charlotte held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Fiona in 8.
Highest recorded here: Charlotte #30 in 1986, Fiona #15 in 1974.
The order changed in 1982: Charlotte moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #59 and #37; by 1982 that had become #48 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Charlotte #37, Fiona #92.
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 | Charlotte | Fiona |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Free man (feminine form of Charles). | The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'. |
| Origin | French, feminine of Charles | Scottish, feminine of Fionn |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃɑɹlət/ | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Lottie, Charlie, Carlotta | 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 #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Charlotte is recorded with a French, feminine of Charles origin, while Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin.
- Charlotte has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Fiona.
- Charlotte'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.
- The available evidence gives Charlotte a "high" Data Confidence level and Fiona a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Charlotte
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1989–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2012 (recorded 1989–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #25 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