Fionn vs Marcus
Fionn and Marcuscompared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Fionn was ranked #6 and Marcus #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #26 and Marcus #144 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #330 and Marcus #176 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #757 and Marcus #233 among boys in England and Wales.
Fionn and Marcus over time
Fionn and Marcus appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Fionn held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Marcus in 1.
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.
Marcus reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Fionn 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 2004, Fionn moved ahead of Marcus in Northern Ireland · Boys — #132 and #100 the year before became #97 and #108.
- Mirrored each other
Over 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Marcus fell — from #257 and #107 in 1971 to #6 and #232 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Fionn and Marcus were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #6 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1971–2025
Fionn held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Marcus in 16.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #6 in 2023, Marcus #99 in 1972.
The order changed in 1993: Fionn moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #167 and #138; by 1993 that had become #132 and #148.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fionn #6, Marcus #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fionn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Marcus in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #555 in 2022, Marcus #83 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fionn #757, Marcus #233.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Fionn held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Marcus in 5.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #26 in 2024, Marcus #100 in 2003.
The order changed in 2004: Fionn moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #132 and #100; by 2004 that had become #97 and #108.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fionn #26, Marcus #144.
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 | Fionn | Marcus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'white' or 'fair', extending in Old Irish usage to 'bright' and figuratively 'true, just'. Strongly associated with the mythological hero Fionn mac Cumhaill. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #6 (2025) | Norway · Boys #150 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fionn has a recorded origin (Irish); Marcus does not have one recorded yet.
- Fionn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Marcus.
- A meaning is recorded for Fionn; Marcus doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Fionn
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1971–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Marcus
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #399 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1963–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among boys in Norway, in 2001 (recorded 1963–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #150 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys