Heather vs Megan
Heather 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 1986, Heather was ranked #97 and Megan #21 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2007, Heather was ranked #351 and Megan #29 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1983, Heather was ranked #94 and Megan #32 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Heather was ranked #325 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Heather was ranked #351 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Heather was ranked #826 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Heather and Megan over time
Heather and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Heather in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Heather 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 Zealand · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #27 in 1968 as Heather fell out of it to #54, having been #46 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1964, Megan moved ahead of Heather in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #70 and #96 the year before became #70 and #63.
- Longest-running competitions
Heather and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #325 and #352.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Heather #78 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Heather held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Megan in 37.
Highest recorded here: Heather #83 in 2003, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Heather #325, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Heather held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 29.
Highest recorded here: Heather #78 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Heather #826, Megan #503.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1962–1983
Heather held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Heather #28 in 1962, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1968: Megan moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #46 and #52; by 1968 that had become #54 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Heather #94, Megan #32.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1958–1986
Heather held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 9.
Highest recorded here: Heather #52 in 1959, Megan #21 in 1986.
The order changed in 1964: Megan moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #70 and #96; by 1964 that had become #70 and #63.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Heather #97, Megan #21.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1997–2007
Heather held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 11.
Highest recorded here: Heather #166 in 2003, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Heather #351, Megan #29.
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 | Heather | 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 #325 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Heather does not have one recorded yet.
- Heather and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Heather 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 Heather 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
Heather
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 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 recorded1954–1983
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1983).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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