Fiona vs Vanessa
Fiona and Vanessacompared 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 1987, Fiona was ranked #95 and Vanessa #43 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1987, Fiona was ranked #92 and Vanessa #54 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #399 and Vanessa #187 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2014, Fiona was ranked #365 and Vanessa #278 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Fiona was ranked #325 and Vanessa #413 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #638 and Vanessa #351 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Fiona was ranked #1406 and Vanessa #533 among girls in England and Wales.
Fiona and Vanessa over time
Fiona and Vanessa appear together in 6 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Vanessa held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Fiona in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 5 of those lists, and Vanessa in none. 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 1982, Vanessa moved ahead of Fiona in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #44 and #45 the year before became #48 and #37.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Fiona and Vanessa changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1963 and 1987, ending at #95 and #43.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Fiona and Vanessa averaged 20.5 places apart, ending at #95 and #43.
- Longest-running competitions
Fiona and Vanessa were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 31 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #399 and #187.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Fiona #157 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls61 shared years, 1965–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Vanessa in 16.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #4 in 1971, Vanessa #97 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #325, Vanessa #413.
Norway · Girls31 shared years, 1974–2025
Fiona held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Vanessa in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #207 in 2015, Vanessa #136 in 2019.
The order changed in 2022: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #242 and #272; by 2022 that had become #236 and #181.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fiona #399, Vanessa #187.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fiona held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Vanessa in 20.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #157 in 1996, Vanessa #202 in 1996.
The order changed in 2005: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #334 and #403; by 2005 that had become #386 and #369.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fiona #1406, Vanessa #533.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls24 shared years, 1963–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Vanessa in 11.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #12 in 1969, Vanessa #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 1982: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #44 and #45; by 1982 that had become #48 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #95, Vanessa #43.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1967–1987
Fiona held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Vanessa in 15.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #14 in 1969, Vanessa #15 in 1973.
The order changed in 1975: Vanessa moved ahead. In 1974 they stood at #15 and #16; by 1975 that had become #25 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Fiona #92, Vanessa #54.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2014
Fiona held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Vanessa in 6.
Highest recorded here: Fiona #66 in 1997, Vanessa #163 in 2012.
The order changed in 2008: Vanessa moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #203 and #351; by 2008 that had become #277 and #228.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Fiona #365, Vanessa #278.
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 | Vanessa |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #325 (2025) | Norway · Girls #187 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Vanessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Fiona has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Vanessa.
- A meaning is recorded for Fiona; Vanessa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Vanessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1995
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1967–1995).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #187 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls