Katherine vs Megan
Katherine 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Katherine was ranked #76 and Megan #51 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2000, Katherine was ranked #81 and Megan #77 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Katherine was ranked #266 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #608 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Katherine was ranked #476 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Katherine was ranked #872 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Katherine and Megan over time
Katherine and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 182 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Katherine 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.
Katherine reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Megan in 1. 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 1965, Megan moved ahead of Katherine in New Zealand · Girls — #70 and #86 the year before became #91 and #60.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Katherine and Megan changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1958 and 2000, ending at #81 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 42 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Katherine and Megan averaged 11.2 places apart, ending at #81 and #77.
- Longest-running competitions
Katherine and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #872 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Katherine #48 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Megan in 37.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #87 in 1985, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1989: Megan moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #108 and #110; by 1989 that had become #104 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #608, Megan #352.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls42 shared years, 1958–2000
Katherine held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Megan in 27.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #24 in 1982, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Katherine #81, Megan #77.
New Zealand · Girls38 shared years, 1962–2001
Katherine held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Megan in 35.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #32 in 1984, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order changed in 1965: Megan moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #70 and #86; by 1965 that had become #91 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Katherine #76, Megan #51.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #48 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Katherine #872, Megan #816.
Northern Ireland · Girls25 shared years, 1997–2022
Katherine held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 24.
Highest recorded here: Katherine #56 in 1998, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Katherine #266, 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 | Katherine | 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 | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #608 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 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); Katherine does not have one recorded yet.
- Katherine has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Megan.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Katherine 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 Katherine 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
Katherine
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #100 among girls in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2000
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1982 (recorded 1956–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #872 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