Fiona vs Kathryn
Fiona and Kathryncompared 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 Kathryn #55 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1987, Fiona was ranked #92 and Kathryn #63 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Fiona was ranked #432 and Kathryn #263 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Fiona was ranked #279 and Kathryn #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #638 and Kathryn #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Kathryn #2788 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Kathryn over time
Fiona and Kathryn appear together in 5 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Kathryn held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Fiona 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Kathryn changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1362 and #2788.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Kathryn averaged 17.4 places apart, ending at #95 and #55.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Kathryn were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #2788.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Kathryn #83 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2023
Fiona held the stronger position in 55 of those years, Kathryn in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Kathryn #141 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fiona #279, Kathryn #856.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1956–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Kathryn in 17.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Kathryn #30 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Kathryn #55.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1955–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Kathryn in 6.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Kathryn #35 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #92, Kathryn #63.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Kathryn in 20.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Kathryn #83 in 1997.
The order changed in 2022: Fiona moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #1692 and #1351; by 2022 that had become #1621 and #2888.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Kathryn #2788.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1997–2017
Fiona held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Kathryn in 16.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Kathryn #40 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Fiona #432, Kathryn #263.
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
Side by side
| Field | Fiona | Kathryn |
|---|---|---|
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (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
- Fiona has a recorded origin (Scottish, feminine of Fionn); Kathryn does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Kathryn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Kathryn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Kathryn
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #55 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 recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1965 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls