Amy vs Megan
Amy 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Amy was ranked #28 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Amy was ranked #28 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #138 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Amy was ranked #175 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Amy was ranked #275 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Amy was ranked #366 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Amy and Megan over time
Amy and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 163 years of shared records. Amy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Megan in 1.
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.
Amy reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Megan in 2. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Amy moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #47 and #32 the year before became #27 and #39.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Amy and Megan averaged 42.0 places apart, ending at #366 and #816.
- Longest-running competitions
Amy and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #366 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Amy #9 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #9 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #366 and #816.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 45 of those years, Megan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 2004, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #138, Megan #352.
New Zealand · Girls31 shared years, 1975–2005
Amy held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Megan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1984, Megan #19 in 1975.
The order changed in 1978: Amy moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #26 and #23; by 1978 that had become #15 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Amy #28, Megan #97.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Amy held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Amy #9 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Amy #366, Megan #816.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls29 shared years, 1975–2004
Amy held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Megan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Amy #7 in 1983, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1977: Amy moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #47 and #32; by 1977 that had become #27 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Amy #28, Megan #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Amy held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Megan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Amy #4 in 1998, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2003: Amy moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #8 and #4; by 2003 that had become #5 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Amy #175, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Amy | 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 | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #138 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 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); Amy does not have one recorded yet.
- Amy and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Amy 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 Amy 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
Amy
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #262 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 recorded1975–2012
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1975–2012).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #366 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