Fionna is a unique and beautiful name of Irish origin. It is derived from the Irish word "fionn" which means "fair or white." This name has been traditionally associated with the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill, also known as Finn MacCool, a legendary hunter and warrior from Irish mythology.
The name Fionna was first popularized during the 19th century when it appeared in several works of literature. It gained further recognition through the character Fiona, the daughter of King Conall Cernach in James Macpherson's "Ossian" cycle of poems.
Despite its Irish origins, Fionna has also been used in Scotland and other parts of the British Isles. Today, it is considered a unisex name, although it is more commonly used for girls.
Overall, Fionna is a charming and distinctive name with a rich history and cultural significance. It is perfect for parents looking for a unique and meaningful name for their child.
The name Fionna has seen a notable trend over the years in the United States, as indicated by the annual birth statistics provided.
In the early 1970s and late 1980s, the name Fionna was quite rare, with only 5 births each year from 1971 to 1985. However, it started gaining popularity in the late 1980s and early 1990s, with a steady increase in birth counts: 9 births in 1986, 7 births in 1987, and peaking at 24 births in 2000.
The year 2002 marked a significant turning point for the name Fionna. With 33 births that year, it reached its highest point yet. This high level of popularity was maintained over the next few years, with birth counts ranging from 21 to 41 between 2005 and 2012.
However, since 2012, the name Fionna's popularity has been on a gradual decline. From 2013 onwards, the annual birth count has ranged from 19 to 28 births per year, with a notable drop in recent years: 16 births in 2020, 15 births in 2021, and 10 births in 2022.
Despite this recent decrease in popularity, Fionna remains a name with a unique history. Over the past five decades (from 1971 to 2022), a total of 720 babies have been named Fionna in the United States. This indicates that while it may not be one of the most popular names, it has maintained a consistent presence among parents' naming choices.