Ashley vs Megan
Ashley 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, Ashley was ranked #48 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Ashley was ranked #49 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ashley was ranked #432 and Megan #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ashley was ranked #443 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ashley was ranked #1406 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashley and Megan over time
Ashley and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 131 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ashley 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.
Ashley 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, Ashley moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #36 and #21 the year before became #17 and #20.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Ashley and Megan averaged 14.8 places apart, ending at #49 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashley and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #443 and #352.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashley #152 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Ashley held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Megan in 38.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #128 in 1995, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1988: Megan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #133 and #181; by 1988 that had become #157 and #110.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashley #443, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #152 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ashley #1406, Megan #503.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1986–2005
Ashley held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Megan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #23 in 1991, Megan #22 in 1990.
The order changed in 2003: Ashley moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #65 and #59; by 2003 that had become #59 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ashley #49, Megan #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1985–2004
Ashley held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Megan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #17 in 1987, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1987: Ashley moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #36 and #21; by 1987 that had become #17 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Ashley #48, Megan #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2017
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #127 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ashley #432, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Ashley | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (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); Ashley does not have one recorded yet.
- Ashley and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Ashley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Ashley 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
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #443 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