Fiona
Fiona: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /fiˈoʊnə/ · /fiːˈəʊnə/
Meaning and origin of Fiona
Root meaning: “fair, white”
- A female given name from Scottish Gaelic, in regular use since the 20th century, first in Scotland, then in England.
Etymology
From Irish fionn (“fair, white”). In use before 1713. Popularized by James Macpherson (see 1765 quotation), and perhaps by the 19th-century Scottish writer William Sharp, who chose “Fiona Macleod” as his pen name. * (Sara Duterte): After the fictional character Princess Fiona from the Shrek series, who transforms from princess to ogre.
How popular is Fiona?
Since 1880, 33,959 girls and 5 boys in the U.S. have been named Fiona (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #180 in 2017. Its highest rank for boys was #11935 in 2004. In 2025 it ranked #470 for girls, with 654 babies given the name.
Names similar to Fiona
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Scottish girl names
Sibling name ideas for Fiona
Sister and brother names that share Fiona's Scottish roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Fiona FAQ
What does the name Fiona mean?
Fiona traces back to a root meaning "fair, white". A female given name from Scottish Gaelic, in regular use since the 20th century, first in Scotland, then in England. From Irish fionn (“fair, white”). In use before 1713. Popularized by James Macpherson (see 1765 quotation), and perhaps by the 19th-century Scottish writer William Sharp, who chose “Fiona Macleod” as his pen name. * (Sara Duterte): After the fictional character Princess Fiona from the Shrek series, who transforms from princess to ogre.
What is the origin of the name Fiona?
Fiona is listed as a name of Scottish origin.
How popular is the name Fiona?
Since 1880, 33,959 girls and 5 boys in the U.S. have been named Fiona (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #180 in 2017. Its highest rank for boys was #11935 in 2004. In 2025 it ranked #470 for girls, with 654 babies given the name.
Is Fiona a boy or girl name?
Fiona is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 33,959 girls and 5 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.