Danielle vs Fiona
Danielle 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 1987, Danielle was ranked #11 and Fiona #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1987, Danielle was ranked #26 and Fiona #92 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Danielle was ranked #432 and Fiona #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #504 and Fiona #556 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #790 and Fiona #638 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #934 and Fiona #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Danielle and Fiona over time
Danielle and Fiona appear together in 4 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Danielle held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fiona 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 2 of those lists, and Danielle 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 1977, Danielle moved ahead of Fiona in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #24 and #22 the year before became #26 and #31.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Danielle and Fiona changed places 13 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1966 and 2024, ending at #504 and #556.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Danielle and Fiona averaged 30.4 places apart, ending at #11 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Danielle and Fiona were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1966 to 2024, ending at #504 and #556.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Danielle #20 in 1996, Fiona #157 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1966–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Fiona in 35.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Fiona #4 in 1971.
The order changed in 2024: Danielle moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #404 and #279; by 2024 that had become #504 and #556.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #504, Fiona #556.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Fiona in 1.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Fiona #157 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #934, Fiona #1406.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1967–1987
Danielle held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Fiona in 10.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #11 in 1987, Fiona #12 in 1969.
The order changed in 1977: Danielle moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #24 and #22; by 1977 that had become #26 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Danielle #11, Fiona #95.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2017
Danielle held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Fiona in 1.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #24 in 1997, Fiona #66 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Danielle #432, 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 | Danielle | Fiona |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'. | The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission | Scottish, feminine of Fionn |
| Pronunciation | /da.njɛl/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #504 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Danielle is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin.
- Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Fiona.
- Danielle'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, NZ.
How each name got here
Danielle
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2010
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1993 (recorded 1981–2010).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #934 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #399 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls