Joann vs Megan
Joann 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 1995, Joann was ranked #516 and Megan #14 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2018, Joann was ranked #5666 and Megan #126 among girls in England and Wales.
Joann and Megan over time
Joann and Megan appear together in 1 published list, across 14 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Joann in 0.
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.
Joann reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Megan 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1976–1995
Joann held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Joann #263 in 1976, Megan #14 in 1995.
The order changed in 1985: Megan moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #288 and #320; by 1985 that had become #519 and #283.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Joann #516, Megan #14.
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 | Joann | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #5666 (2018) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Joann does not have one recorded yet.
- Joann has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Joann doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Joann 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
Joann
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #393 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1995
Highest recorded position: #249 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1974 (recorded 1969–1995).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2018
Most recently recorded at #5666 among girls in England and Wales, in 2018.
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 recorded1996–2024
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