Courtney vs Megan
Courtney 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 2004, Courtney was ranked #69 and Megan #84 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Courtney was ranked #94 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Courtney was ranked #432 and Megan #91 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Courtney was ranked #727 and Megan #212 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Courtney was ranked #2278 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Courtney and Megan over time
Courtney and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Courtney in 2.
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.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Courtney 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 1989, Courtney moved ahead of Megan in New Zealand · Girls — #38 and #27 the year before became #24 and #38.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Courtney and Megan averaged 27.2 places apart, ending at #94 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Courtney and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2278 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Courtney #17 in 1998, Megan #3 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #12 and #6 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2017 they were #432 and #91.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #17 in 1998, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Courtney #2278, Megan #816.
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1988–2023
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #43 in 1998, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Courtney #727, Megan #212.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2017
Courtney held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #12 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Courtney #432, Megan #91.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1984–2004
Courtney held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Megan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #11 in 1996, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Courtney #94, Megan #91.
New Zealand · Girls20 shared years, 1985–2004
Courtney held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Megan in 4.
Highest recorded here: Courtney #8 in 1996, Megan #22 in 1990.
The order changed in 1989: Courtney moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #38 and #27; by 1989 that had become #24 and #38.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Courtney #69, Megan #84.
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 | Courtney | 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 | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #2278 (2025) | 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) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Courtney does not have one recorded yet.
- Courtney and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Courtney doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Courtney 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
Courtney
Popularity journey
First recorded1984
First recorded at #68 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1984 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1985–2006
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1985–2006).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 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