Fiona vs Paula
Fiona and Paulacompared 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 1976, Fiona was ranked #22 and Paula #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1984, Fiona was ranked #88 and Paula #93 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Paula #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #399 and Paula #521 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Fiona was ranked #432 and Paula #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Paula #1491 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Paula over time
Fiona and Paula appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Paula 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.
Fiona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Paula 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 1971, Fiona moved ahead of Paula in New Zealand · Girls — #18 and #15 the year before became #19 and #27.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Paula changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #1491.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Fiona and Paula averaged 20.4 places apart, ending at #88 and #93.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Paula were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 34 years, from 1963 to 2025, ending at #399 and #521.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 57 of those years, Paula in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Paula #15 in 1979.
The order changed in 2023: Fiona moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #747 and #747; by 2023 that had become #279 and #727.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Paula #718.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1963–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Paula in 14.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Paula #251 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #399, Paula #521.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Paula in 6.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Paula #549 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Paula #1491.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1955–1984
Fiona held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Paula in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Paula #15 in 1970.
The order changed in 1971: Fiona moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #18 and #15; by 1971 that had become #19 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Fiona #88, Paula #93.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1963–1976
Fiona held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Paula in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Paula #62 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1976: Fiona #22, Paula #98.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2017
Fiona held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Paula in 1.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Paula #172 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Fiona #432, Paula #432.
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 | Paula |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Norway · Girls #521 (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); Paula does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Paula both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Paula 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
Paula
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #264 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1984
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1954–1984).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #521 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls