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Fiona

Heart
Scottish
"white, fair"

Fiona Origin and Meaning

The name Fiona is a girl's name of Gaelic, Scottish origin meaning "white, fair".

Fiona entered the American consciousness with the opening of the 1954 Broadway musical Brigadoon, but didn't come onto the U.S. popularity list until 1990.

Fiona is the best known of a group of related Gaelic names, which is ironic because it's the only one without genuine traditional roots — it was found first in James Macpherson's Ossianic poems and then popularized in the late nineteenth century as a feminine pseudonym for William Sharp, a Scottish male writer. Some researchers believe that Fiona Macleod was Sharp's identity as a trans woman.

Its recent spike in popularity owes much to singer Fiona Apple and also possibly to Princess Fiona in Shrek. In fact, there have been numerous Fionas on the big and small screens, from The Thorn Birds to Josie and the Pussycats, Four Weddings and a Funeral to Nurse Jackie to Shameless.

Jennie Garth and Chad Lowe have daughters named Fiona. It's also Julia Roberts' middle name.

If you're looking for something more authentic, consider Fionnuala.

# 357 in the US

Fiona Rank in US Top 1000

# 167 on Nameberry

Fiona Rank in Nameberry Top 1000

Fiona Popularity

20 Names Similar to Fiona

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Famous People Named Fiona

  • Fiona Apple (McAfee Maggart)American singer,songwriter
  • Fiona Mary ShawIrish actress
  • Fiona Victoria GubelmannAmerican actress
  • Fiona May IapichinoItalian Olympic long jumper
  • Fiona SitHong Kong pop singer
  • Fiona NashAustralian politician
  • Fiona RaeBritish painter
  • Fiona DourifAmerican actress
  • Fiona XieSingaporean actress and TV presenter
  • Fiona O'CarrollIrish actress
  • Fiona Elizabeth BruceBritish TV journalist
  • Fiona Eve Facinelli (b. 2006)daughter of actors Jennie Garth and Peter Facinelli
  • Fiona Luna (b. 2010)daughter of actors Diego Luna and Camila Sodi
  • Fiona Leigh Pudi (b. 2012)daughter of actor Danny Pudi
  • Fiona Hepler Lowe (b. 2012)daughter of actors Chad Lowe and Kim Painter

Fiona in Pop Culture

  • Princess Fionacharacter in the "Shrek" series
  • Fiona Gallaghermain character on TV's "Shameless"
  • Fiona Celestine Arabella Coynecharacter on "Degrassi: The Next Generation"
  • "Fred and Fiona" animated series
  • Fiona "Fi" Glenannecharacter on TV's "Burn Notice"
  • Fionacharacter in Lois Lowry's The Giver
  • Fiona Bellimain character of the game Haunting Ground
  • Fiona Phillipsmain character on TV's "So Weird"
  • Fionacharacter from Roger Zelazny's Amber series
  • Fiona Leecharacter in The Blurred Man by Anthony Horowitz
  • Fiona Goodecharacter in"American Horror Story: Coven"
  • Fiona Peytondaughter on TV's "Nurse Jackie"
  • Fiona "Fee" Clearycharacter in The Thorne Birds
  • Fiona Waterscharacter in "From The Files of Madison Finn"
  • Fiona Frauenfeldcharacter from the "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" series
  • Fiona McIrishcharacter from the "Sims" series
  • Fiona Widdershinscharacter in A Series of Unfotunate Events: The Grim Grotto
  • Fiona"The Black Fairy" on TV's "Once Upon a Time"
  • Fiona MayeHigh Court judge in the "The Children Act"