Fiona vs Magdalena
Fiona and Magdalenacompared 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.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Fiona was ranked #310 and Magdalena #474 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Fiona was ranked #365 and Magdalena #439 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #556 and Magdalena #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Magdalena #1362 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Magdalena over time
Fiona and Magdalena appear together in 3 published lists, across 73 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Magdalena in 0.
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.
Fiona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Magdalena 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Magdalena changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1362 and #1362.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Magdalena were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #1362.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Magdalena in 5.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Magdalena #712 in 2012.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Magdalena #1362.
Norway · Girls28 shared years, 1967–2023
Fiona held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Magdalena in 14.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Magdalena #91 in 1986.
The order changed in 2010: Fiona moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #349 and #338; by 2010 that had become #347 and #431.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Fiona #310, Magdalena #474.
Republic of Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 2006–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Magdalena in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #110 in 2007, Magdalena #285 in 2011.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #556, Magdalena #898.
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 | Magdalena |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 4 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #1362 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| 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); Magdalena does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona has 2 syllables, compared with 4 for Magdalena.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Magdalena doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO.
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
Magdalena
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #392 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–2023
Highest recorded position: #71 among girls in Norway, in 1984 (recorded 1952–2023).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1362 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls