Fiona vs Kathleen
Fiona and Kathleencompared 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, Fiona was ranked #95 and Kathleen #75 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Fiona was ranked #88 and Kathleen #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Kathleen #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Fiona was ranked #365 and Kathleen #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Kathleen #997 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Kathleen over time
Fiona and Kathleen appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Kathleen 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.
Kathleen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fiona 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 1959, Fiona moved ahead of Kathleen in New Zealand · Girls — #54 and #43 the year before became #42 and #46.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Kathleen changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1362 and #997.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Kathleen averaged 35.2 places apart, ending at #95 and #75.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Kathleen were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #997.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Kathleen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Kathleen #18 in 1965.
The order changed in 2025: Fiona moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #556 and #197; by 2025 that had become #325 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Kathleen #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Kathleen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Kathleen #227 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Kathleen moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #955 and #1063; by 2020 that had become #1267 and #807.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Kathleen #997.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1956–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Kathleen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Kathleen #37 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Kathleen #75.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1955–1984
Fiona held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kathleen in 3.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Kathleen #33 in 1955.
The order changed in 1959: Fiona moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #54 and #43; by 1959 that had become #42 and #46.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Fiona #88, Kathleen #100.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2014
Fiona held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kathleen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Kathleen #112 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Fiona #365, Kathleen #439.
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 | Kathleen |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| 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); Kathleen does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Kathleen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Kathleen doesn't have one written yet.
- 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
Kathleen
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #29 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #997 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls