Fiona vs Jane
Fiona and Janecompared 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 1984, Fiona was ranked #63 and Jane #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Fiona was ranked #68 and Jane #81 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Jane #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2013, Fiona was ranked #305 and Jane #576 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Fiona was ranked #432 and Jane #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Jane #1160 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Jane over time
Fiona and Jane appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Jane in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Jane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Fiona 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1966, Fiona moved ahead of Jane in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #28 the year before became #21 and #25.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Jane changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2017, ending at #432 and #432.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Jane averaged 21.1 places apart, ending at #63 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Jane were both ranked in New Zealand · Girls for 31 years, from 1955 to 1986, ending at #68 and #81.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Jane in 23.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Jane #59 in 1964.
The order changed in 2003: Jane moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #63 and #78; by 2003 that had become #80 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Jane #213.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1955–1986
Fiona held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Jane in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Jane #28 in 1957.
The order changed in 1986: Fiona moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #75 and #74; by 1986 that had become #68 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #68, Jane #81.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Jane in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Jane #316 in 1996.
The order changed in 2024: Jane moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #1108 and #1469; by 2024 that had become #1406 and #1160.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Jane #1160.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1956–1984
Fiona held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Jane in 10.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Jane #25 in 1966.
The order changed in 1966: Fiona moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #31 and #28; by 1966 that had become #21 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Fiona #63, Jane #93.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Fiona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jane in 12.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Jane #80 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Fiona #432, Jane #432.
Norway · Girls14 shared years, 1963–2013
Fiona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Jane in 10.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #305 in 2013, Jane #80 in 1967.
The order changed in 2002: Fiona moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #464 and #279; by 2002 that had become #555 and #619.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Fiona #305, Jane #576.
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 | Fiona | Jane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Fionn. Popularized by Scottish poet James Macpherson in his 1761 poem Fingal, where it was spelled 'Fióna'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Scottish, feminine of Fionn | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| 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); Jane does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Jane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Jane 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
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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls