Annabel vs Megan
Annabel 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Annabel was ranked #305 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #337 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Annabel was ranked #351 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Annabel was ranked #544 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Annabel and Megan over time
Annabel and Megan appear together in 3 published lists, across 82 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Annabel in 0.
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.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Annabel 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Annabel and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #544 and #352.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1979–2025
Annabel held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Megan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #164 in 2014, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 2025: Megan moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #342 and #372; by 2025 that had become #544 and #352.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Annabel #544, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Annabel held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Megan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #104 in 2002, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Annabel moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #282 and #232; by 2021 that had become #287 and #330.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Annabel #337, Megan #503.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1998–2022
Annabel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Annabel #135 in 2013, Megan #4 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Annabel #305, 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 | Annabel | 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Annabel does not have one recorded yet.
- Annabel has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Annabel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Annabel 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
Annabel
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #508 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 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