Eoin vs Fionn
Eoin and Fionncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Eoin was ranked #106 and Fionn #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Eoin was ranked #71 and Fionn #26 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Eoin was ranked #404 and Fionn #330 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Eoin was ranked #1197 and Fionn #658 among boys in England and Wales.
Eoin and Fionn over time
Eoin and Fionn appear together in 3 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Eoin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fionn in 0.
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.
Eoin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fionn 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 2020, Fionn moved ahead of Eoin in Northern Ireland · Boys — #46 and #49 the year before became #46 and #40.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eoin and Fionn changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1999 and 2024, ending at #71 and #26.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Eoin and Fionn averaged 53.6 places apart, ending at #71 and #26.
- Mirrored each other
Over 26 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Eoin fell — from #38 and #241 in 1999 to #71 and #26 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Eoin and Fionn were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1197 and #658.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1971–2025
Eoin held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Fionn in 15.
Highest recorded here: Eoin #14 in 2004, Fionn #6 in 2023.
The order changed in 2011: Fionn moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #29 and #35; by 2011 that had become #32 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eoin #106, Fionn #6.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Eoin held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Fionn in 11.
Highest recorded here: Eoin #398 in 1998, Fionn #555 in 2022.
The order changed in 2016: Fionn moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #671 and #790; by 2016 that had become #833 and #691.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eoin #1197, Fionn #658.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Eoin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Fionn in 8.
Highest recorded here: Eoin #23 in 2004, Fionn #26 in 2024.
The order changed in 2020: Fionn moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #46 and #49; by 2020 that had become #46 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eoin #71, Fionn #26.
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 | Eoin | Fionn |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as the Irish form of John, ultimately tracing to Hebrew elements for 'Yahweh' and 'to be gracious/show favour'. | Traditionally interpreted as 'white' or 'fair', extending in Old Irish usage to 'bright' and figuratively 'true, just'. Strongly associated with the mythological hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈoːnʲ/ | /ˈfɪn/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #6 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Both Eoin and Fionn share a recorded Irish origin.
- Eoin and Fionn both have 1 syllable.
- Eoin's recorded meaning differs from Fionn's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Eoin
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #83 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #14 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Fionn
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #658 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys