Imogen vs Megan
Imogen 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, Imogen was ranked #41 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #64 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Imogen was ranked #100 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Imogen was ranked #97 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Imogen was ranked #121 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Imogen was ranked #483 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Imogen and Megan over time
Imogen and Megan appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Imogen 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.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Imogen 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2012, Imogen moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #32 and #29 the year before became #37 and #41.
- Longest-running competitions
Imogen and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #483 and #352.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1979–2025
Imogen held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Megan in 31.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #255 in 2020, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Imogen #483, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Imogen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Megan in 16.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #26 in 2010, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2012: Imogen moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #32 and #29; by 2012 that had become #37 and #41.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Imogen #64, Megan #503.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1998–2022
Imogen held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Megan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Imogen #103 in 2007, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2019: Imogen moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #143 and #130; by 2019 that had become #119 and #144.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Imogen #121, 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 | Imogen | 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 | 3 | 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 #483 (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); Imogen does not have one recorded yet.
- Imogen has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Imogen 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 Imogen 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
Imogen
Popularity journey
First recorded1979
First recorded at #523 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1979 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in England and Wales, in 2010 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #483 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