Fiona vs Nancy
Fiona and Nancycompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Nancy #81 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Nancy #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Fiona was ranked #432 and Nancy #103 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #638 and Nancy #260 among girls in Scotland.
Norway · Girls
In 2011, Fiona was ranked #341 and Nancy #482 among girls in Norway.
Fiona and Nancy over time
Fiona and Nancy appear together in 4 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nancy 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.
Fiona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Nancy 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Nancy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 50 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #325 and #99.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls50 shared years, 1965–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Nancy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Nancy #99 in 2025.
The order changed in 2015: Nancy moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #197 and #304; by 2015 that had become #362 and #276.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Nancy #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nancy in 22.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Nancy #64 in 2018.
The order changed in 2003: Nancy moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #268 and #271; by 2003 that had become #336 and #284.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Nancy #81.
Norway · Girls14 shared years, 1963–2011
Fiona held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Nancy in 7.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #274 in 2008, Nancy #158 in 1967.
The order changed in 2008: Fiona moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #555 and #518; by 2008 that had become #274 and #606.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Fiona #341, Nancy #482.
Northern Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 2004–2017
Fiona held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Nancy in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #159 in 2005, Nancy #103 in 2017.
The order changed in 2012: Nancy moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #246 and #363; by 2012 that had become #451 and #451.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Fiona #432, Nancy #103.
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 | Nancy |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #99 (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); Nancy does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Nancy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Nancy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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 #399 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Nancy
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #249 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #64 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #99 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls