Eileen vs Meghan
Eileen 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 2015, Eileen was ranked #426 and Meghan #358 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Eileen was ranked #443 and Meghan #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Eileen was ranked #855 and Meghan #2000 among girls in England and Wales.
Eileen and Meghan over time
Eileen and Meghan appear together in 3 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Meghan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Eileen in 1.
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.
Eileen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Meghan 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Eileen and Meghan changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1985 and 2025, ending at #443 and #885.
- Longest-running competitions
Eileen and Meghan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 40 years, from 1985 to 2025, ending at #443 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Eileen #314 in 1997, Meghan #119 in 1999.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls40 shared years, 1985–2025
Eileen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Meghan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Eileen #83 in 1985, Meghan #150 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Eileen #443, Meghan #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Eileen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Meghan in 25.
Highest recorded here: Eileen #855 in 2024, Meghan #237 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Eileen moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1238 and #710; by 2021 that had become #1069 and #1286.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Eileen #855, Meghan #2000.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2015
Eileen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Meghan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Eileen #314 in 1997, Meghan #119 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Eileen #426, Meghan #358.
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 Eileen
Pairs where Eileen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Geraldine vs Eileen
In 1964 they stood at #9 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2021 they were #883 and #322.
Geraldine · Eileen · 51 shared years, 1964–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Pauline vs Eileen
In 1964 they stood at #12 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2018 they were #896 and #336.
Pauline · Eileen · 45 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Eileen vs Carmel
In 1964 they stood at #17 and #21 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2015 they were #362 and #896.
Eileen · Carmel · 46 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Deirdre vs Eileen
In 1964 they stood at #14 and #17 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2019 they were #871 and #421.
Deirdre · Eileen · 51 shared years, 1964–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Eileen | 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 | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Eileen and Meghan both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Eileen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #324 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #501 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls