Adelaide vs Megan
Adelaide and Megancompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Adelaide was ranked #625 and Megan #212 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Adelaide was ranked #418 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Adelaide was ranked #342 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Adelaide was ranked #541 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Adelaide and Megan over time
Adelaide and Megan appear together in 2 published lists, across 38 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Adelaide in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Longest-running competitions
Adelaide and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #342 and #816.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Adelaide held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Megan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Adelaide #342 in 2025, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2023: Adelaide moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #397 and #342; by 2023 that had become #347 and #516.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adelaide #342, Megan #816.
Republic of Ireland · Girls8 shared years, 1976–2023
Adelaide held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Megan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Adelaide #429 in 1976, Megan #63 in 2013.
The order changed in 2013: Megan moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #429 and #497; by 2013 that had become #894 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Adelaide #625, Megan #212.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Adelaide | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ |
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #342 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Adelaide does not have one recorded yet.
- Adelaide has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Adelaide doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Adelaide a "medium" Data Confidence level and Megan a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Adelaide
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #385 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #342 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #342 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Megan
Popularity journey
First recorded1958
First recorded at #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1958 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls