Fionn vs Rafael
Fionn and Rafaelcompared 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 Rafael #329 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Fionn was ranked #51 and Rafael #234 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #757 and Rafael #215 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Fionn was ranked #330 and Rafael #619 among boys in Scotland.
Fionn and Rafael over time
Fionn and Rafael appear together in 2 published lists, across 50 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Rafael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Fionn #555 in 2022, Rafael #181 in 2022.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fionn held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Rafael in 27.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #555 in 2022, Rafael #181 in 2022.
The order changed in 1998: Rafael moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #600 and #809; by 1998 that had become #1263 and #887.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fionn #757, Rafael #215.
Republic of Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2005–2025
Fionn held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Rafael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Fionn #6 in 2023, Rafael #306 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fionn #6, Rafael #329.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Fionn
Pairs where Fionn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Fionn vs Eoin
Over 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Eoin fell — from #257 and #65 in 1971 to #6 and #106 in 2025.
Fionn · Eoin · 51 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Fionn vs Marcus
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.
Fionn · Marcus · 51 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Nicholas vs Fionn
Over 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Nicholas fell — from #85 and #257 in 1971 to #198 and #6 in 2025.
Nicholas · Fionn · 51 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
- Fionn vs Ronan
Over 51 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Fionn rose about as far as Ronan fell — from #257 and #49 in 1971 to #6 and #86 in 2025.
Fionn · Ronan · 51 shared years, 1971–2025 · Mirrored each other
Side by side
| Field | Fionn | Rafael |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #6 (2025) | Norway · Boys #328 (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); Rafael does not have one recorded yet.
- Fionn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Rafael.
- A meaning is recorded for Fionn; Rafael 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
Rafael
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #445 among boys in Norway in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #181 among boys in England and Wales, in 2022 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #328 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys