Hayley vs Megan
Hayley 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Hayley was ranked #19 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Hayley was ranked #31 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Hayley was ranked #140 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #148 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Hayley was ranked #230 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Hayley was ranked #478 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Hayley and Megan over time
Hayley and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Hayley in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Hayley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Megan in 2. 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 New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley moved into the top 50 at #41 in 1998 as Megan fell out of it to #58, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Hayley moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #50 and #48 the year before became #41 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Hayley and Megan changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1979 and 2004, ending at #19 and #91.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Hayley and Megan averaged 21.2 places apart, ending at #19 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Hayley and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #478 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hayley #57 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1977–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Megan in 34.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #48 in 1997, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 2020: Hayley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #111 and #99; by 2020 that had become #111 and #130.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #148, Megan #352.
New Zealand · Girls33 shared years, 1973–2005
Hayley held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #14 in 1990, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 2000: Hayley moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #44 and #39; by 2000 that had become #50 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Hayley #31, Megan #97.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Hayley held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Megan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2025: Hayley moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #503 and #503; by 2025 that had become #478 and #816.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Hayley #478, Megan #816.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls25 shared years, 1979–2004
Hayley held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Megan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #19 in 1991, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1998: Hayley moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #50 and #48; by 1998 that had become #41 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Hayley #19, Megan #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2022
Hayley held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Megan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Hayley #57 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2002.
The order changed in 2021: Hayley moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #228 and #149; by 2021 that had become #171 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Hayley #140, Megan #266.
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 | Hayley | 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, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #148 (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); Hayley does not have one recorded yet.
- Hayley and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Hayley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Hayley 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
Hayley
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #401 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1973–2016
Highest recorded position: #14 among girls in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1973–2016).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #478 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