Fiona vs Linda
Fiona and Lindacompared 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 1979, Fiona was ranked #30 and Linda #76 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1986, Fiona was ranked #74 and Linda #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #291 and Linda #376 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Linda #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Fiona was ranked #451 and Linda #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Linda #1406 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Linda over time
Fiona and Linda appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Linda in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Linda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Fiona in 2. 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 1984, Fiona moved ahead of Linda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #72 and #65 the year before became #63 and #85.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Linda changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #325 and #718.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Linda averaged 20.0 places apart, ending at #74 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Linda were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 31 years, from 1956 to 1986, ending at #74 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #32 and #28 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #325 and #718.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Linda in 4.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Linda #13 in 1973.
The order changed in 2025: Fiona moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #747 and #747; by 2025 that had become #325 and #718.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Linda #718.
Norway · Girls32 shared years, 1963–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Linda in 19.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Linda #2 in 1974.
The order changed in 2012: Fiona moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #341 and #288; by 2012 that had become #377 and #426.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #291, Linda #376.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1956–1986
Fiona held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Linda in 13.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Linda #12 in 1963.
The order changed in 1984: Fiona moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #72 and #65; by 1984 that had become #63 and #85.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Fiona #74, Linda #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Linda in 1.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Linda #638 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Linda #1406.
New Zealand · Girls23 shared years, 1955–1979
Fiona held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Linda in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Linda #7 in 1957.
The order changed in 1966: Fiona moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #21 and #14; by 1966 that had become #19 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Fiona #30, Linda #76.
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 | Linda |
|---|---|---|
| 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 #718 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Linda does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Linda both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Linda 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
Linda
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #329 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Norway, in 1975 (recorded 1945–2024).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls