Denise vs Megan
Denise 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 1973, Denise was ranked #86 and Megan #21 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1969, Denise was ranked #97 and Megan #44 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Denise was ranked #426 and Megan #59 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Denise was ranked #834 and Megan #130 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Denise was ranked #4867 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Denise and Megan over time
Denise and Megan appear together in 4 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Denise 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.
Denise reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.
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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1991 as Denise fell out of it to #52, having been #41 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1965, Megan moved ahead of Denise in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #55 and #63 the year before became #61 and #52.
- Longest-running competitions
Denise and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4867 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Denise #664 in 1998, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1976–2020
Denise held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Megan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Denise #31 in 1989, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1991: Megan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #41 and #65; by 1991 that had become #52 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Denise #834, Megan #130.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Denise held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Denise #664 in 1998, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denise #4867, Megan #816.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1958–1969
Denise held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Megan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Denise #36 in 1958, Megan #44 in 1969.
The order changed in 1965: Megan moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #55 and #63; by 1965 that had become #61 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Denise #97, Megan #44.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1962–1973
Denise held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 6.
Highest recorded here: Denise #25 in 1964, Megan #21 in 1973.
The order changed in 1968: Megan moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #36 and #52; by 1968 that had become #46 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1973: Denise #86, Megan #21.
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 | Denise | 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, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4867 (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); Denise does not have one recorded yet.
- Denise has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Denise doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Denise 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
Denise
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1969
Highest recorded position: #22 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1969).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 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