Alexandra vs Megan
Alexandra 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Alexandra was ranked #43 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Alexandra was ranked #64 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #141 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alexandra was ranked #162 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Alexandra was ranked #176 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Alexandra was ranked #231 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Alexandra and Megan over time
Alexandra and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alexandra in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Alexandra reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Megan in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Alexandra moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2000 as Megan fell out of it to #52, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Alexandra moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #120 and #100 the year before became #117 and #126.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Alexandra and Megan changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1985 and 2005, ending at #43 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Alexandra and Megan averaged 30.4 places apart, ending at #64 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Alexandra and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #231 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Alexandra #38 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Megan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #67 in 1998, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #141, Megan #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls31 shared years, 1969–2004
Alexandra held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Megan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #16 in 1993, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1988: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #22 and #20; by 1988 that had become #19 and #26.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Alexandra #64, Megan #91.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Alexandra held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Megan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #38 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2018: Alexandra moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #120 and #100; by 2018 that had become #117 and #126.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Alexandra #231, Megan #816.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Alexandra held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Megan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #45 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2021: Alexandra moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #178 and #149; by 2021 that had become #206 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alexandra #162, Megan #266.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1985–2005
Alexandra held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Megan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Alexandra #26 in 1990, Megan #22 in 1990.
The order changed in 2000: Alexandra moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #41 and #39; by 2000 that had become #36 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Alexandra #43, Megan #97.
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 | Alexandra | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Alexandra does not have one recorded yet.
- Alexandra has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Alexandra doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Alexandra 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
Alexandra
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #400 among girls in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1969–2015
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1993 (recorded 1969–2015).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #231 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