Angela vs Megan
Angela 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 1998, Angela was ranked #88 and Megan #43 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Angela was ranked #71 and Megan #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Angela was ranked #418 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Angela was ranked #608 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Angela was ranked #1198 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Angela and Megan over time
Angela and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 166 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Angela in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Angela reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1987, Megan moved ahead of Angela in New Zealand · Girls — #29 and #31 the year before became #39 and #32.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 45 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Angela and Megan averaged 17.9 places apart, ending at #71 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Angela and Megan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 45 years, from 1958 to 2002, ending at #71 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Angela #382 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Angela held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Megan in 37.
Highest recorded here: Angela #55 in 1976, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1988: Megan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #116 and #181; by 1988 that had become #125 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Angela #608, Megan #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls45 shared years, 1958–2002
Angela held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Megan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Angela #13 in 1974, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Angela #71, Megan #99.
New Zealand · Girls32 shared years, 1962–1998
Angela held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Megan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Angela #3 in 1975, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1987: Megan moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #29 and #31; by 1987 that had become #39 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Angela #88, Megan #43.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Angela #382 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Angela #1198, Megan #503.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2022
Angela held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Angela #248 in 2000, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Angela #418, 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 | Angela | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (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); Angela does not have one recorded yet.
- Angela has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Angela doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Angela 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
Angela
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #362 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #608 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls