Fionn vs Nicholas
Fionn and Nicholascompared 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 Nicholas #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #26 and Nicholas #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #330 and Nicholas #191 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #757 and Nicholas #211 among boys in England and Wales.
Fionn and Nicholas over time
Fionn and Nicholas appear together in 3 published lists, across 106 years of shared records. Fionn held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nicholas 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.
Nicholas 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 Nicholas in Northern Ireland · Boys — #132 and #115 the year before became #97 and #169.
- Mirrored each other
Over 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Nicholas fell — from #257 and #85 in 1971 to #6 and #198 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Fionn and Nicholas were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 51 years, from 1971 to 2025, ending at #6 and #198.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1971–2025
Fionn held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Nicholas in 20.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #6 in 2023, Nicholas #77 in 1988.
The order changed in 1995: Fionn moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #139 and #104; by 1995 that had become #119 and #129.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fionn #6, Nicholas #198.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fionn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Nicholas in 29.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #555 in 2022, Nicholas #52 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fionn #757, Nicholas #211.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Fionn held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Nicholas in 4.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #26 in 2024, Nicholas #104 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Fionn moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #132 and #115; by 2004 that had become #97 and #169.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fionn #26, Nicholas #305.
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 | Nicholas |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| 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. | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. |
| Origin | Irish | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfɪn/ | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #198 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Fionn is recorded with a Irish origin, while Nicholas is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Fionn has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Nicholas.
- Fionn's recorded meaning differs from Nicholas's — see the table above for each.
- 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
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys