Kelly vs Megan
Kelly 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 1998, Kelly was ranked #89 and Megan #43 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1995, Kelly was ranked #99 and Megan #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Kelly was ranked #404 and Megan #212 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Kelly was ranked #446 and Megan #237 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Kelly was ranked #790 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Kelly was ranked #2006 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Kelly and Megan over time
Kelly and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Kelly in 2.
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.
Kelly 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 1991, Megan moved ahead of Kelly in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #48 and #65 the year before became #46 and #35.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Kelly and Megan changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1964 and 1995, ending at #99 and #50.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Kelly and Megan averaged 20.4 places apart, ending at #99 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Kelly and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2006 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Kelly #74 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1976–2023
Kelly held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Megan in 33.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #35 in 1994, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1991: Megan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #48 and #65; by 1991 that had become #46 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Kelly #404, Megan #212.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #74 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Kelly #2006, Megan #816.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls30 shared years, 1964–1995
Kelly held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #6 in 1979, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1995: Kelly #99, Megan #50.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1970–1998
Kelly held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #3 in 1978, Megan #18 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Kelly #89, Megan #43.
Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2021
Kelly held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Megan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Kelly #101 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Kelly #446, Megan #237.
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 | Kelly | 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 | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | England and Wales · Girls #2006 (2025) | 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) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Kelly does not have one recorded yet.
- Kelly and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Kelly 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 Kelly 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
Kelly
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1970–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1978 (recorded 1970–1998).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2006 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