I’ve looked through some older posts about Fiona. Definitely a lot of questions regarding whether it’s usable after Shrek became popular.
It’s a name I’ve never really given much thought to, but find myself coming back to a lot lately. I think maybe I enjoy names that have a long o sound?
Regardless, what type of girl/woman do you imagine having the name Fiona? Does the name feel too freely? Or does it feel a little spunky and lively? What is your general impression?
What other names would you suggest that you feel are similar to Fiona’s style?
I think I typically would have classified names like Fiona as being too Princessy for my taste, but I think the long o sound makes it sound a bit different than some of mother names that would typically be too “frilly” for our family- like Arabella or Serephina, etc.
love [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. But just also as an idea friend I know has daughter [name_f]Serafina[/name_f] who goes by [name_f]Fina[/name_f]. Also so cute.
I like [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] a lot! I don’t think she’s too frilly or princessy, but instead feels strong, feminine, and sophisticated/elegant – very different from [name_f]Arabella[/name_f] or [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f], more matching the vibes of [name_f]Margot[/name_f] or [name_f]Daphne[/name_f]. I know a little [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] (she’s 7-8yrs old), and she’s super spunky and sweet, energetic with a huge heart!
I personally love the name [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]! While some people may associate it with that movie, I doubt it would be in a negative way as that’s an awesome movie! I think you’re right that it strikes a good balance between girl/princessy but not too frilly!
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] has quite a down to earth vibe to me, perhaps because the Fiona’s I have known have been quite academic and sensible. I really like how it sounds. It’s a name that had a mid-century boon in the UK, but looking at the US stats I can see that [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] isn’t going to have those dated associations, if that’s where you are.
Other names like [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] ~
[name_f]Imogen[/name_f]
[name_f]Fiora[/name_f], [name_f]Ofira[/name_f],
[name_f]Helena[/name_f]
[name_f]Willa[/name_f]
[name_f]Mara[/name_f]
[name_f]Opal[/name_f]
[name_f]Amber[/name_f]
Admittedly, Fiona isn’t a personal favourite - a bit clunky, dusty and crunchy for me - however! more objectively, it’s a strong but sweet sounding name with a nice flow and that pleasing O sound. I’ve recently encountered a lovely Fiona too - kind, intelligent, and enthusiastic - and she used the nickname Fi, which I think adds something to the name.
For me, names that feel similar to Fiona include: Rhiannon, Aileen, Katrina / Catriona, Shona, Thelma, Sylvia, Judith, Julie, Julia, Yvonne, Lorna, Iona, Claudia, Rosanna, Rosanne, Phillipa, Tabitha
I like Fiona! It’s the name of a lot of cool fictional characters. I do slightly prefer Fianna or Fiadh (Fia) over it, but Fiona is still a sweet slightly unusual option.
I love [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]! I think a lot of first impressions would be of Shrek, but I think it wouldn’t be too much of a barrier like maybe [name_f]Elsa[/name_f] would be.
I love [name_f]Fiona[/name_f], I’m obsessed with the nickname “Phee”. I imagine [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] to be the kinda of little girl who loves to sit in a field of flowers, letting her imagination run wild whilst laying down looking up at the clouds. She dresses girly but loves jumping in puddles and getting muddy too. She’s a sweet, sweet soul.
And the name [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] is criminally underrated.
[name_f]Fiona[/name_f] feels different to me than similar Celtic names (e.g. [name_f]Ffion[/name_f], Iona), because - as some Brits here have mentioned - I tend to pair [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] with names like [name_f]Amanda[/name_f], [name_f]Julie[/name_f], [name_f]Karen[/name_f], as most Fionas I have come across were born in the 60s. So I think it really depends on where you are!
I have the sweetest cousin called [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] - she’s fair haired & blue eyed, willowy & loves nature and I - but I just don’t like the name, even with many good associations! I somehow see it (or feel it( as dull, tired & limp. It seems like a follower’s name. So I don’t see it as princessy. I see it as girly but for someone shy and nondescript. Similar but livelier names are: [name_f]Heather[/name_f], [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], [name_f]Sarah[/name_f], [name_f]Felicity[/name_f] & [name_f]Philippa[/name_f] (Pip).
[name_f]Love[/name_f] it! I always think of [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] from [name_f]Lois[/name_f] Lowry’s book the giver! [name_m]Awesome[/name_m] character!
[name_f]Felicity[/name_f] always makes its way back onto my list! But something keeps me from loving it for some reason.
Thank you for the honest feedback, I appreciate it.
Are you from the UK by chance? It seems like a lot of people from either the UK or Australia have similar feelings about [name_f]Fiona[/name_f]. [name_m]Or[/name_m] that it’s apparently extremely common and sort of frumpy.
I do find it funny that you listed [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] and [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] as alternatives because I cannot count how many Sarah’s and Jennifer’s I went to school with over the years. Heck, even at my last job I actually worked with both a [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] and a [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f], haha. so to me those feel more nondescript.
[name_f]Fiora[/name_f] is one I don’t think I’ve considered before. It might be too rhyme-y with our last name (my husband liked [name_f]Flora[/name_f] but rhyming was an issue with that one), but I’m adding that to my list.
[name_m]Pearl[/name_m] is on my list! More likely as a middle but potentially a first. We actually had a dog named [name_f]Greta[/name_f], haha! Her name was “Wedda” when we adopted her and my husband and I couldn’t stop tripping up calling her that so we changed it to [name_f]Greta[/name_f] since it rhymed.
It probably would be on my list otherwise!
Was very interesting seeing the differences of impressions based on people’s geography! I posted on a Facebook group about [name_f]Fiona[/name_f] and it was basically Americans thinking the name was young and sweet and underused vs the rest of the world having a similar sentiment of being dusty and stale.
I dig [name_f]Tabitha[/name_f] and [name_f]Thelma[/name_f]. And [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] was my paternal grandmother’s name!
Yes, we are central US. But I like hearing impressions from other areas. It’s definitely shifted my perspective on the name a bit.
[name_f]Fiora[/name_f] is one I haven’t considered before! I’m adding that to my list of potentials.
so to me those feel more nondescript.
It might be too rhyme-y with our last name (my husband liked [name_f]Flora[/name_f] but rhyming was an issue with that one), but I’m adding that to my list.