Amanda vs Megan
Amanda 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 1997, Amanda was ranked #72 and Megan #33 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1999, Amanda was ranked #84 and Megan #72 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amanda was ranked #354 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #608 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amanda was ranked #983 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Amanda and Megan over time
Amanda and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 170 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Amanda in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Amanda reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #48 in 1997 as Amanda fell out of it to #72, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Megan moved ahead of Amanda in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #50 and #60 the year before became #72 and #48.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Amanda and Megan averaged 24.6 places apart, ending at #84 and #72.
- Longest-running competitions
Amanda and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #983 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amanda #170 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Megan in 35.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #15 in 1986, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1991: Megan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #33 and #65; by 1991 that had become #39 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #608, Megan #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls42 shared years, 1958–1999
Amanda held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Megan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #2 in 1980, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1997: Megan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #50 and #60; by 1997 that had become #72 and #48.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Amanda #84, Megan #72.
New Zealand · Girls36 shared years, 1962–1997
Amanda held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Megan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #4 in 1985, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1991: Megan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #20 and #22; by 1991 that had become #32 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Amanda #72, Megan #33.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #170 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amanda #983, Megan #816.
Northern Ireland · Girls15 shared years, 1997–2022
Amanda held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Amanda #164 in 1998, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amanda #354, Megan #266.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Amanda
Pairs where Amanda shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amanda vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #306 and #896.
Amanda · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amanda vs Annie
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #112 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #33.
Amanda · Annie · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amanda vs Niamh
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #608 and #90.
Amanda · Niamh · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amanda vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #471 and #873.
Amanda · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Megan
Pairs where Megan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Shannon vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #11 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #2138 and #816.
Shannon · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Charlotte vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #7 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #25 and #816.
Charlotte · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #4 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #816.
Emily · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emma vs Megan
In 1996 they stood at #14 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #85 and #816.
Emma · Megan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Amanda | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #52 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 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); Amanda does not have one recorded yet.
- Amanda has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Amanda doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Amanda 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
Amanda
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1999
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1980 (recorded 1954–1999).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #983 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