Fiona vs Leanne
Fiona and Leannecompared 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 1986, Fiona was ranked #74 and Leanne #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Fiona was ranked #75 and Leanne #95 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Fiona was ranked #430 and Leanne #366 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Fiona was ranked #661 and Leanne #883 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Leanne #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Leanne over time
Fiona and Leanne appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Leanne in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 Leanne changed places 10 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1957 and 1986, ending at #74 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Leanne averaged 12.3 places apart, ending at #74 and #95.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Leanne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 48 years, from 1973 to 2021, ending at #661 and #883.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls48 shared years, 1973–2021
Fiona held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Leanne in 5.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #6 in 1973, Leanne #26 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Fiona #661, Leanne #883.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Leanne in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Leanne #88 in 1996.
The order changed in 2006: Fiona moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #386 and #380; by 2006 that had become #340 and #480.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Leanne #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1957–1986
Fiona held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Leanne in 16.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Leanne #6 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #74, Leanne #95.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1961–1985
Fiona held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Leanne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Leanne #22 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Fiona #75, Leanne #95.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Fiona held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Leanne in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Leanne #84 in 1998.
The order changed in 2010: Leanne moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #203 and #268; by 2010 that had become #430 and #366.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Fiona #430, Leanne #366.
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 | Leanne |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #2115 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Leanne does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Leanne both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Leanne 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 #399 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Leanne
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1986
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1957–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls