Danielle vs Megan
Danielle 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 2005, Danielle was ranked #40 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2002, Danielle was ranked #76 and Megan #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Danielle was ranked #424 and Megan #144 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #504 and Megan #372 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #790 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Danielle was ranked #934 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Danielle and Megan over time
Danielle and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Danielle in 2.
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.
Danielle 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 2002, Danielle moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #88 and #71 the year before became #76 and #99.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Danielle and Megan changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1967 and 2002, ending at #76 and #99.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Danielle and Megan averaged 12.3 places apart, ending at #76 and #99.
- Longest-running competitions
Danielle and Megan were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 36 years, from 1967 to 2002, ending at #76 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Danielle #20 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #20 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #934 and #503.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Megan in 32.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #21 in 1989, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1993: Megan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #26 and #27; by 1993 that had become #25 and #20.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #504, Megan #372.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls36 shared years, 1967–2002
Danielle held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Megan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #11 in 1987, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 2002: Danielle moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #88 and #71; by 2002 that had become #76 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2002: Danielle #76, Megan #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #20 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Danielle #934, Megan #503.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1981–2005
Danielle held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Megan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #8 in 1993, Megan #19 in 1981.
The order changed in 1987: Danielle moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #35 and #31; by 1987 that had become #26 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Danielle #40, Megan #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 1997–2019
Danielle held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Danielle #24 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Danielle #424, Megan #144.
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 | Danielle | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The French feminine form of Daniel, from Hebrew roots meaning 'God is my judge'. | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret |
| Pronunciation | /da.njɛl/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #504 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Danielle is recorded with a Biblical Hebrew, via French transmission origin, while Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin.
- Danielle has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- Danielle's recorded meaning differs from Megan's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Danielle 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
Danielle
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #344 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1981–2010
Highest recorded position: #8 among girls in New Zealand, in 1993 (recorded 1981–2010).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #934 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 recorded1996–2024
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