Fiona
Fiona is a girls' name of Scottish origin meaning “fair, white, beautiful.” It ranked #470 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Fiona?
fee-OH-nah
where does the name Fiona come from?
From the Gaelic word for fair or white; a separate Irish Fiona means of wine, from fion. The poet James Macpherson popularized rather than invented it: it was in use before 1713, decades before his 18th-century Ossianic poems, and William Sharp's pen name Fiona Macleod may have given it a later boost.
Fiona was coined by Scottish poet James Macpherson in the 18th century from the Gaelic word 'fionn' meaning 'fair' or 'white.' Despite its literary origins, it has become one of the most authentically Scottish names. The character Princess Fiona in 'Shrek' brought it to a global audience.
how popular is this name?
Fiona has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 35 years since 1990, and fell outside it for 1. It peaked at #180 in 2017, and ranked #470 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #470 |
| 2024 | #405 |
| 2023 | #400 |
| 2022 | #359 |
| 2021 | #299 |
| 2020 | #294 |
| 2019 | #265 |
| 2018 | #224 |
| 2017 | #180 |
| 2016 | #211 |
| 2010 | #258 |
| 2000 | #461 |
| 1990 | #930 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Fiona fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Fiona
At first confined to Scotland, the name spread to countries including Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and Canada. In the Shrek films, Princess Fiona turns from princess into ogre.
who are famous people named Fiona?
- Fiona Apple (American singer-songwriter)
- Fiona Shaw (Irish actress)
- Princess Fiona (character in Shrek)
what are the nicknames and variants of Fiona?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Fiona?
what names go well with Fiona?
Sibling names that share Fiona's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Fiona
What does the name Fiona mean?
Fiona means “fair, white, beautiful”.
What is the origin of the name Fiona?
Fiona comes from the Scottish naming tradition. Related forms include Fionna.
How popular is the name Fiona?
Fiona ranked #470 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2017, at #180, and it has spent 35 years in the top 1,000 since 1990.
Is Fiona a boy or girl name?
Fiona is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Fiona?
Fiona is pronounced fee-OH-nah, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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