Diane vs Meghan
Diane and Meghancompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 1998, Diane was ranked #229 and Meghan #174 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Diane was ranked #727 and Meghan #555 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Diane was ranked #2788 and Meghan #2278 among girls in England and Wales.
Diane and Meghan over time
Diane and Meghan appear together in 2 published lists, across 58 years of shared records. Meghan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Diane 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.
Diane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Meghan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Diane and Meghan changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1985 and 2023, ending at #727 and #555.
- Longest-running competitions
Diane and Meghan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2788 and #2278.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Diane #983 in 1997, Meghan #237 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Diane held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Meghan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Diane #983 in 1997, Meghan #237 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Diane #2788, Meghan #2278.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1985–2023
Diane held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Meghan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Diane #158 in 1986, Meghan #150 in 1994.
The order changed in 2020: Meghan moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #752 and #876; by 2020 that had become #834 and #255.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Diane #727, Meghan #555.
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 Diane
Pairs where Diane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Christine vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Christine #1 in 1952, Diane #17 in 1953.
Christine · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Susan vs Diane
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Susan #1 in 1954, Diane #17 in 1953.
Susan · Diane · 19 shared years, 1952–1970 · Peaked in the same years
- Heather vs Diane
Across 20 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Heather and Diane averaged 6.5 places apart, ending at #77 and #82.
Heather · Diane · 20 shared years, 1954–1973 · Closest over the longest run
- Lisa vs Diane
In 1966, Lisa moved ahead of Diane in New Zealand · Girls — #31 and #30 the year before became #7 and #32.
Lisa · Diane · 12 shared years, 1962–1973 · One moved ahead of the other
Side by side
| Field | Diane | Meghan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #2788 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Diane and Meghan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Diane
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #21 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 recorded1954–1973
Highest recorded position: #16 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1973).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2788 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Meghan
Popularity journey
First recorded1985
First recorded at #519 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1985 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2020
Highest recorded position: #119 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1997–2020).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2278 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls