Kelley vs Megan
Kelley 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1997, Kelley was ranked #3824 and Megan #5 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2003, Kelley was ranked #559 and Megan #16 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Kelley and Megan over time
Kelley and Megan appear together in 1 published list, across 23 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Kelley 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.
Kelley 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.
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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 23 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Megan rose about as far as Kelley fell — from #348 and #518 in 1977 to #559 and #16 in 2003.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1977–2003
Kelley held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Megan in 19.
Highest recorded here: Kelley #242 in 1987, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1984: Megan moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #347 and #529; by 1984 that had become #414 and #320.
Most recent shared year, 2003: Kelley #559, Megan #16.
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 | Kelley | 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 | GB-ENW, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #4527 (2009) | 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) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Kelley does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelley and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Kelley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
- The available evidence gives Kelley 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
Kelley
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #428 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1974–2003
Highest recorded position: #242 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1987 (recorded 1974–2003).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2009
Most recently recorded at #4527 among boys in England and Wales, in 2009.
England and Wales · Boys
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