Amelia vs Meg
Amelia and Megcompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2021, Amelia was ranked #2 and Meg #3961 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Amelia was ranked #6 and Meg #871 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Amelia was ranked #156 and Meg #331 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Amelia and Meg over time
Amelia and Meg appear together in 2 published lists, across 44 years of shared records. Amelia held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Meg in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Meg reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Amelia in none. 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Amelia and Meg changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1993 and 2019, ending at #6 and #871.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2021
Amelia held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Meg in 0.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Meg #409 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Amelia #2, Meg #3961.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1993–2019
Amelia held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Meg in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #5 in 2013, Meg #269 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Amelia #6, Meg #871.
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 | Amelia | Meg |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | United Kingdom #1 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3961 (2021) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Amelia has a recorded origin (Latin (influence)); Meg does not have one recorded yet.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Meg.
- A meaning is recorded for Amelia; Meg doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Amelia a "high" Data Confidence level and Meg a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Amelia
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Meg
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #516 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2019
Highest recorded position: #269 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2000 (recorded 1993–2019).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2021
Most recently recorded at #3961 among girls in England and Wales, in 2021.
England and Wales · Girls