Amelia vs Megan
Amelia and Megan compared 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 2025, Amelia was ranked #3 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amelia was ranked #7 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amelia was ranked #11 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amelia was ranked #12 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Amelia was ranked #18 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Amelia was ranked #20 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Amelia and Megan over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Amelia and Megan over time
Amelia and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Amelia in 1.
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.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Amelia moved into the top 50 at #42 in 2000 as Megan fell out of it to #52, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2006, Amelia moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #15 and #13 the year before became #16 and #17.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Amelia and Megan averaged 42.0 places apart, ending at #20 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Amelia and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3 and #816.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1976–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Megan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #3 in 2017, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #12, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amelia held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Megan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #1 in 2011, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2006: Amelia moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #15 and #13; by 2006 that had become #16 and #17.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amelia #3, Megan #816.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2022
Amelia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Megan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #4 in 2012, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2012: Amelia moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #33 and #32; by 2012 that had become #4 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amelia #11, Megan #266.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1986–2005
Amelia held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #20 in 2005, Megan #22 in 1990.
The order changed in 2000: Amelia moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #61 and #39; by 2000 that had become #42 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Amelia #20, Megan #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1985–2004
Amelia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Megan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Amelia #18 in 2004, Megan #26 in 1988.
The order changed in 1998: Amelia moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #56 and #48; by 1998 that had become #51 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Amelia #18, Megan #91.
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 Amelia
Pairs where Amelia shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Amelia vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #2788.
Amelia · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1079.
Amelia · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Caitlin
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #66 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Caitlin · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Amelia vs Ellen
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #63 in England and Wales · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2025 they were #3 and #1028.
Amelia · Ellen · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · 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 — one moved ahead of the other.
- Emily vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Emily in England and Wales · Girls — #3 and #5 the year before became #5 and #1.
Emily · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sophie vs Amelia
In 2011, Amelia moved ahead of Sophie in England and Wales · Girls — #2 and #5 the year before became #6 and #1.
Sophie · Amelia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
- Sarah vs Angela
In 1974, Sarah moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #6 and #5 the year before became #1 and #6.
Sarah · Angela · 36 shared years, 1958–1998 · One moved ahead of the other
- Emma vs Aoife
In 2003, Emma moved ahead of Aoife in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #4 and #2 the year before became #1 and #3.
Emma · Aoife · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One moved ahead of the other
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
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 | Amelia | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'work' or 'industrious', with usage strongly influenced by the separate Roman name Aemilia. | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. |
| Origin | Latin (influence) | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret |
| Pronunciation | /əˈmiːliə/ | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Amelie, Amalia, Amy, Mia | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Amelia is recorded with a Latin (influence) origin, while Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin.
- Amelia has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- Amelia's recorded meaning differs from Megan's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
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 recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 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