Fiona vs Joanne
Fiona and Joanne compared 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 Zealand · Girls
In 1986, Fiona was ranked #68 and Joanne #87 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1987, Fiona was ranked #95 and Joanne #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Fiona was ranked #327 and Joanne #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Fiona was ranked #747 and Joanne #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Joanne #1719 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Joanne over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Fiona and Joanne over time
Fiona and Joanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Joanne in 2.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 Joanne 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 1985, Fiona moved ahead of Joanne in New Zealand · Girls — #88 and #63 the year before became #75 and #76.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Joanne averaged 16.2 places apart, ending at #95 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Joanne were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #1719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Joanne #168 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2022
Fiona held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Joanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Joanne #29 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Fiona #747, Joanne #747.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1956–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Joanne in 31.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Joanne #5 in 1970.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Joanne #89.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1955–1986
Fiona held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Joanne in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Joanne #4 in 1969.
The order changed in 1985: Fiona moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #88 and #63; by 1985 that had become #75 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #68, Joanne #87.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Joanne in 1.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Joanne #168 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Joanne #1719.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2013
Fiona held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Joanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Joanne #101 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Fiona #327, Joanne #440.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Fiona
Pairs where Fiona shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Susan vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #22 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2023 they were #856 and #279.
Susan · Fiona · 57 shared years, 1964–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Fiona vs Carol
In 1964 they stood at #32 and #36 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2010 they were #205 and #663.
Fiona · Carol · 45 shared years, 1964–2010 · Started together, ended far apart
- Karen vs Fiona
In 1964 they stood at #41 and #32 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #421.
Karen · Fiona · 56 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Joanne
Pairs where Joanne shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Joanne vs Patricia
Joanne and Patricia changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #747 and #458.
Joanne · Patricia · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Denise
Joanne and Denise changed places 17 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2020, ending at #628 and #834.
Joanne · Denise · 54 shared years, 1964–2020 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Lorraine
Joanne and Lorraine changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #734 and #896.
Joanne · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Joanne vs Marie
Joanne and Marie changed places 15 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2022, ending at #747 and #905.
Joanne · Marie · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.
- Daniel vs Samuel
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Daniel and Samuel averaged 2.6 places apart, ending at #62 and #66.
Daniel · Samuel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Samuel vs Joseph
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Samuel and Joseph averaged 3.5 places apart, ending at #66 and #59.
Samuel · Joseph · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Closest over the longest run
- Graeme vs Ross
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Graeme and Ross averaged 3.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #99.
Graeme · Ross · 21 shared years, 1952–1972 · Closest over the longest run
- Thomas vs Patrick
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Thomas and Patrick averaged 3.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #25.
Thomas · Patrick · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Closest over the longest run
Other pairs from New Zealand lists
Pairs measured inside New Zealand's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- George vs Patrick
Over 64 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, George rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #50 and #60 in 1954 to #6 and #93 in 2020.
George · Patrick · 64 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- Patrick vs Alexander
Over 56 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Alexander rose about as far as Patrick fell — from #60 and #73 in 1954 to #93 and #32 in 2020.
Patrick · Alexander · 56 shared years, 1954–2020 · Mirrored each other
- James vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, James rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #20 and #61 in 1954 to #5 and #100 in 2005.
James · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
- Joseph vs Timothy
Over 52 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Joseph rose about as far as Timothy fell — from #66 and #61 in 1954 to #27 and #100 in 2005.
Joseph · Timothy · 52 shared years, 1954–2005 · Mirrored each other
Other pairs ranked together in the 1980s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1980 and 1989.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Fiona | Joanne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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'. | A variant of Joan/Johanne, ultimately from the same Hebrew-via-Greek-via-Old-French tradition as John (Yochanan, 'Yahweh is gracious') — sometimes also read as a blend of Jo and Anne. |
| Origin | Scottish, feminine of Fionn | English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes |
| Pronunciation | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | /d͡ʒoʊ.ˈæn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1719 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin, while Joanne is recorded with a English and French, from Hebrew via Greek Ioannes origin.
- Fiona and Joanne both have 2 syllables.
- Fiona's recorded meaning differs from Joanne's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, 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 #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Joanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #77 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1986
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1969 (recorded 1954–1986).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls