♡
Why parents love Fiona- Shrek's Fiona is a princess who chooses to be an ogre — genuinely radical.
- The Gaelic meaning white/fair is classic and beautiful.
- Three syllables with a soft, flowing sound: fee-OH-nah.
- Fi is a cute, easy nickname.
- It's Scottish without being difficult to pronounce.
◎
The vibe of Fiona
ScottishfairliteraryprincessGaelicogreflowinginvented
◎
Origin & history of Fiona
Gaelic fionn (white/fair)
→ literary invention Fiona (James Macpherson, 1760s)
1
Irish Gaelic roots
Fiona was invented by James Macpherson in the 1760s for his Ossian poems (which he claimed were translations of ancient Gaelic epics but were largely his own creation). The name derives from the Gaelic fionn meaning white or fair. William Sharp later wrote under the pen name Fiona Macleod, keeping the name alive. Shrek (2001) featured Princess Fiona, who becomes an ogre and chooses to stay that way — a revolutionary subversion of the Disney princess formula. The name has been popular in Scotland and Ireland and maintains a steady US presence.
2
First recorded
Earliest known use: 1760s — James Macpherson created it for his Ossian poems; it was later used by William Sharp under the pen name Fiona Macleod.
3
Today
Fiona remains a beloved choice, ranking #286 in the US. 33,301 babies have been named Fiona since 1942.
◈ Sources: Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names, SSA data
◆
How popular is Fiona?
2017
peak year
Fiona has been losing ground. Once far more common, it has been declining steadily in recent years. It currently ranks around #286, with about 1,199 babies named Fiona each year. In 2017, 1,683 babies received the name (ranked #180). Total registrations across all years since 1880: roughly 33,301.
Year-by-year registrations
1880–2024 · U.S. Social Security data
1,683
Babies named in peak year
(ranked #180)
(ranked #180)
1,199
Avg. per year
(last decade)
(last decade)
11,990
Total registrations
last 10 years
last 10 years
33,301
All-time total
(since 1880)
(since 1880)
✦
Numerology of Fiona9
Life path number
The Humanitarian
Compassion, wisdom and humanitarianism.
Fiona's Life Path 8 is the achiever's number — surprising power beneath the fair exterior. People named Fiona tend to be stronger than they appear, willing to defy expectations, and comfortable in their own skin — even green skin.
♡
Defies expectations✦
Comfortable in her skin◈
Stronger than she appears◎
Fair but fierce♡
Chooses her own formF6
I9
O6
N5
A1
Sum: 27 → Life path 9
♡
Personality of Fiona🌍
Compassionate soul
They carry the weight of the world with grace.
🎨
Richly creative
Deep feeling translates into deep art.
🌟
Old soul wisdom
They've always seemed wiser than their years.
💝
Unconditional love
Their love is vast and forgiving.
◆
Famous people named FionaClick any name to view their Wikipedia page.
F
Princess Fiona
Shrek's revolutionary princess who chose to be an ogre.
F
Fiona Apple
Grammy-winning singer known for uncompromising artistry.
F
Fiona Shaw
Irish actress known for Harry Potter and Killing Eve.
F
James Macpherson
Created the name in his Ossian poems (1760s).
◎
If you like Fiona, you may also love◎
Names that sound like FionaIf you love Fiona, you might love these names with a similar sound, rhythm or feel.
♩
Names that combine with FionaSibling pairings that share the timeless, classic energy of Fiona.
♡
Middle names for FionaThe right middle name turns Fiona into a complete story. Explore options for first-and-middle pairings, then last-name flow.
Want a personalised middle name for Fiona? Try our dedicated generator with 1,000+ pairings.
♡ Generate middle name for Fiona →✦
Numerology life path calculatorEnter any full name and date of birth to discover the life path number — a core numerological indicator of personality, purpose and destiny.
First name
Middle name (optional)
Last name
Date of birth
7
Life path number
How we calculated this
Fiona is a beautiful choice.
Save it to your list, share it with your partner, or keep exploring.