UK girl's name
Fionna
A feminine given name derived from the French name Fiona.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Fionna is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fionna popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5556, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.
This profile covers 10 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1997 to 2009. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 16 living people in the UK are called Fionna. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Fionna ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Fionna.
- • Fionna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #623 in 1993.
- • About 16 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fionna as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5556
2009
Births in 2009
3
Latest year
Peak year
1997
4 births
Estimated living
16
2026
Meaning
What does Fionna mean?
The name Fionna is a feminine given name with roots in the Gaelic language. It is derived from the Gaelic word "fionn," which means "fair" or "white." The name has been in use since the Middle Ages, with some of the earliest recorded instances dating back to the 12th century.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Fionna was Fionna MacCumhaill, a legendary Irish warrior and hero who is said to have lived in the 3rd century AD. She is the central figure in the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology and is often depicted as a leader of the Fianna, a group of warriors and hunters.
In the 16th century, the name Fionna gained popularity among Irish and Scottish families. One notable figure from this time was Fionna O'Donnell, who was born in 1572 and served as the Lady of Tyrconnell, a historic territory in Ulster, Ireland. She played a significant role in the Nine Years' War, a conflict between the Irish chieftains and the English crown.
In the 17th century, the name Fionna appeared in various literary works, including the poetry of Scottish writer Robert Burns. One of his poems, "Fionnaghal: A Fragment," published in 1787, features a character named Fionna.
The 19th century saw the name Fionna gain further recognition, with several notable figures bearing the name. Fionna MacLeod, born in 1855, was a Scottish writer and poet known for her works celebrating the Celtic heritage and culture. Another notable figure was Fionna Nicholson, born in 1860, who was a prominent British suffragist and campaigner for women's rights.
In the 20th century, the name Fionna continued to be used, though with varying degrees of popularity. One notable bearer of the name was Fionna Wilde, born in 1944, an Irish actress and singer who appeared in several films and television shows throughout her career.
Throughout history, the name Fionna has held a strong connection to its Gaelic roots and has been associated with concepts of fairness, purity, and beauty. While its popularity has fluctuated over time, the name has maintained a presence in various cultures and continues to be used today, carrying with it a rich legacy and cultural significance.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fionna over time
The chart below shows babies named Fionna registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2009. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Fionna, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2009, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fionna by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fionna was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #5309 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #3174 | 4 | 1 |
Geography
Where Fionna is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Fionna. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Fionna ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #623 in 1993.
Across the UK
Fionna in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#623 in 1993
2 years of NRS records, 6 total registered
Notable bearers
Famous people named Fionna
-
Fionna Gibb
diplomat
British diplomat
1963-
-
Fionna Carlisle
painter
British painter (born 1954)
1954-
-
Fionna Duncan
jazz singer
Scottish jazz singer
1939-2022
-
Fionna McRae
candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election
Related
Names similar to Fionna
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Fionna: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fionna in the UK right now?
In 2009, Fionna was ranked #5556 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Fionna most popular?
The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Fionna in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fionna?
A feminine given name derived from the French name Fiona.
How many people are called Fionna in the UK?
A total of 10 babies have been registered as Fionna across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 6 more in Scotland.
Where is Fionna most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Fionna ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #623 in 1993. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.