Fiona vs Lisa
Fiona and Lisacompared 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 1987, Fiona was ranked #92 and Lisa #11 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1987, Fiona was ranked #95 and Lisa #19 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #399 and Lisa #174 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Lisa #443 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Fiona was ranked #327 and Lisa #370 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #638 and Lisa #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Lisa #795 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Lisa over time
Fiona and Lisa appear together in 6 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Lisa held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Fiona 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.
Lisa reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Fiona in 1. 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 1961, Lisa moved ahead of Fiona in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #56 and #57 the year before became #46 and #39.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Lisa changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #795.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Lisa averaged 24.7 places apart, ending at #95 and #19.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lisa rose about as far as Fiona fell — from #58 and #64 in 1959 to #95 and #19 in 1987.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Lisa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 34 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #399 and #174.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Lisa in 36.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Lisa #3 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Lisa #443.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1963–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Lisa in 34.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Lisa #46 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #399, Lisa #174.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 25.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Lisa #105 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Lisa #795.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1959–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Lisa in 27.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Lisa #2 in 1968.
The order changed in 1961: Lisa moved ahead. In 1960 they stood at #56 and #57; by 1961 that had become #46 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Lisa #19.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1962–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Lisa in 22.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Lisa #1 in 1968.
The order changed in 1966: Lisa moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #21 and #31; by 1966 that had become #19 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #92, Lisa #11.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2013
Fiona held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Lisa in 8.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Lisa #63 in 1997.
The order changed in 2011: Fiona moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #430 and #237; by 2011 that had become #246 and #363.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Fiona #327, Lisa #370.
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 | Lisa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 short form of Elizabeth, often used independently — notably the name of the subject of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa. |
| Origin | Scottish, feminine of Fionn | Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth |
| Pronunciation | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | /ˈliː.sə/ |
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Norway · Girls #174 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin, while Lisa is recorded with a Hebrew, short form of Elizabeth origin.
- Fiona and Lisa both have 2 syllables.
- Fiona's recorded meaning differs from Lisa's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Lisa
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #330 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1997
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1997).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #174 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls