Fiona vs Siobhán
Fiona and Siobháncompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Fiona was ranked #430 and Siobhán #430 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #1362 and Siobhán #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Siobhán over time
Fiona and Siobhán appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Fiona held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Siobhán 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.
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 1997, Fiona moved ahead of Siobhán in England and Wales · Girls — #157 and #138 the year before became #160 and #162.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Siobhán changed places 12 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2025, ending at #325 and #885.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 57 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Fiona and Siobhán averaged 43.1 places apart, ending at #325 and #885.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Siobhán were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1362 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #32 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #325 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 1964–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Siobhán in 9.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Siobhán #15 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Siobhán #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Siobhán in 1.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Fiona moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #157 and #138; by 1997 that had become #160 and #162.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #1362, Siobhán #3705.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2010
Fiona held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Siobhán in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Siobhán #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Fiona #430, Siobhán #430.
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 | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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'. | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Scottish, feminine of Fionn | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /fi.ˈoʊ.nə/ | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Fiona is recorded with a Scottish, feminine of Fionn origin, while Siobhán is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Fiona has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- Fiona's recorded meaning differs from Siobhán's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Fiona a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls