Fiadh vs Vanessa
Fiadh and Vanessacompared 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 2023, Fiadh was ranked #2 and Vanessa #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiadh was ranked #3 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Fiadh was ranked #72 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiadh was ranked #374 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiadh and Vanessa over time
Fiadh and Vanessa appear together in 3 published lists, across 46 years of shared records. Fiadh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Vanessa in 1.
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.
Vanessa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fiadh 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 2013, Fiadh moved ahead of Vanessa in Northern Ireland · Girls — #172 and #163 the year before became #106 and #234.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 2002–2025
Fiadh held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Vanessa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #1 in 2021, Vanessa #98 in 2009.
The order changed in 2012: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #189 and #120; by 2012 that had become #146 and #180.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiadh #3, Vanessa #413.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2013–2024
Fiadh held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Vanessa in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #355 in 2021, Vanessa #279 in 2014.
The order changed in 2020: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #562; by 2020 that had become #460 and #665.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiadh #374, Vanessa #533.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 2008–2023
Fiadh held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Vanessa in 4.
Highest recorded here: Fiadh #2 in 2023, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order changed in 2013: Fiadh moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #172 and #163; by 2013 that had become #106 and #234.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fiadh #2, Vanessa #391.
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 | Fiadh | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Carries dual meanings in Modern Irish: 'wild, wild animal, deer' (from Irish 'fia'), or alternatively 'respect'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish (modern) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfʲiə/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #3 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fiadh has a recorded origin (Irish (modern)); Vanessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiadh has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiadh; Vanessa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Fiadh
Popularity journey
First recorded2002
First recorded at #620 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 2002 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 2002–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls