Namewise

Isabelle vs Megan

Isabelle 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Isabelle was ranked #34 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Isabelle was ranked #54 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2004, Isabelle was ranked #60 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2005, Isabelle was ranked #68 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Isabelle was ranked #152 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Isabelle was ranked #207 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.

Isabelle and Megan over time

Isabelle and Megan appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Isabelle 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 2009, Isabelle moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #17 and #15 the year before became #17 and #20.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Isabelle and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #54 and #816.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1979–2025

    Isabelle held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Megan in 23.

    Highest recorded here: Isabelle #26 in 2010, Megan #8 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2009: Isabelle moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #41 and #32; by 2009 that had become #32 and #33.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabelle #34, Megan #352.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Isabelle held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Megan in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Isabelle #17 in 2008, Megan #3 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2009: Isabelle moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #17 and #15; by 2009 that had become #17 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Isabelle #54, Megan #816.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls20 shared years, 2003–2022

    Isabelle held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Megan in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Isabelle #109 in 2012, Megan #9 in 2003.

    The order changed in 2021: Isabelle moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #149 and #149; by 2021 that had become #181 and #237.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Isabelle #152, Megan #266.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1996–2004

    Isabelle held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Megan in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Isabelle #52 in 2001, Megan #48 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1999: Isabelle moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #64 and #58; by 1999 that had become #62 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 2004: Isabelle #60, Megan #91.

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 Isabelle

Pairs where Isabelle shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Megan

Pairs where Megan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Isabelle, Megan
FieldIsabelleMegan
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedA Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century.
OriginNot yet recordedWelsh, diminutive of Margaret
Pronunciation/ˈmɛɡ.an/
Syllables42
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedMeghan, Meagan, Maegan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #34 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Isabelle does not have one recorded yet.
  • Isabelle has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
  • A meaning is recorded for Megan; Isabelle 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 Isabelle 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

Isabelle

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1962

    First recorded at #454 among girls in Norway in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in England and Wales, in 2008 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #54 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Megan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls