Fiona vs Lorraine
Fiona and Lorrainecompared 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 1966, Fiona was ranked #21 and Lorraine #82 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1965, Fiona was ranked #21 and Lorraine #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Fiona was ranked #103 and Lorraine #301 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Fiona was ranked #280 and Lorraine #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Lorraine #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Lorraine over time
Fiona and Lorraine appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lorraine in 0.
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.
Lorraine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Fiona moved into the top 50 at #42 in 1959 as Lorraine fell out of it to #60, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1960, Fiona moved ahead of Lorraine in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #58 and #57 the year before became #56 and #66.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Lorraine were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #280 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1964–2018
Fiona held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Lorraine #14 in 1979.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Fiona #280, Lorraine #896.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Lorraine in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Lorraine #661 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Lorraine #2115.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1956–1966
Fiona held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Lorraine in 4.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #21 in 1966, Lorraine #38 in 1957.
The order changed in 1960: Fiona moved ahead. In 1959 they stood at #58 and #57; by 1960 that had become #56 and #66.
Most recent shared year, 1966: Fiona #21, Lorraine #82.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1955–1965
Fiona held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Lorraine in 3.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #17 in 1962, Lorraine #35 in 1955.
The order changed in 1959: Fiona moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #54 and #41; by 1959 that had become #42 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 1965: Fiona #21, Lorraine #89.
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 | Lorraine |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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 | 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); Lorraine does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Lorraine.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Lorraine 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
Lorraine
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #27 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 recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2115 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls