Cathrina vs Megan
Cathrina 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 1991, Cathrina was ranked #457 and Megan #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Cathrina and Megan over time
Cathrina and Megan appear together in 1 published list, across 9 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Cathrina in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Cathrina reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Megan 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls9 shared years, 1977–1991
Cathrina held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Megan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Cathrina #311 in 1980, Megan #35 in 1991.
The order changed in 1984: Megan moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #365 and #529; by 1984 that had become #516 and #320.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Cathrina #457, Megan #35.
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 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
Side by side
| Field | Cathrina | 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 | IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #457 (1991) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Cathrina does not have one recorded yet.
- Cathrina has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Cathrina doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in IE.
- The available evidence gives Cathrina 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
Cathrina
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #354 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1967–1991
Highest recorded position: #293 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1974 (recorded 1967–1991).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent1991
Most recently recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1991.
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 recorded1996–2025
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