Fiona vs Sally
Fiona and Sallycompared 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 1979, Fiona was ranked #30 and Sally #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1987, Fiona was ranked #95 and Sally #56 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Sally #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Fiona was ranked #327 and Sally #255 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2023, Fiona was ranked #310 and Sally #479 among girls in Norway.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Sally #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Sally over time
Fiona and Sally appear together in 4 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Sally 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.
Fiona reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Sally 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 1959, Fiona moved ahead of Sally in New Zealand · Girls — #54 and #53 the year before became #42 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Sally changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #325 and #239.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Sally averaged 26.1 places apart, ending at #95 and #56.
- Mirrored each other
Over 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Fiona rose about as far as Sally fell — from #87 and #66 in 1955 to #30 and #99 in 1979.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Sally were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 32 years, from 1956 to 1987, ending at #95 and #56.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Sally #144 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Sally in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Sally #153 in 1997.
The order changed in 2019: Sally moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #280 and #336; by 2019 that had become #421 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Sally #239.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1956–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sally in 6.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Sally #36 in 1977.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Sally #56.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sally in 3.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Sally #144 in 1996.
The order changed in 2023: Fiona moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #1621 and #1180; by 2023 that had become #1108 and #2346.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Sally #1743.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1955–1979
Fiona held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sally in 2.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Sally #50 in 1959.
The order changed in 1959: Fiona moved ahead. In 1958 they stood at #54 and #53; by 1959 that had become #42 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Fiona #30, Sally #99.
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 | Sally |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (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); Sally does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona and Sally both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Sally 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
Sally
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #93 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 recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls