Laura vs Megan
Laura 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Laura was ranked #42 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Laura was ranked #69 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Laura was ranked #243 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Megan #816 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Laura and Megan over time
Laura and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 159 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Megan in 2.
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.
Laura reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Megan in 2. 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 2019, Laura moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #169 and #126 the year before became #176 and #184.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Megan changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2025, ending at #112 and #352.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Megan averaged 29.1 places apart, ending at #42 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Megan were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #816.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #17 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #303 and #816.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Megan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Megan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2019: Laura moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #169 and #126; by 2019 that had become #176 and #184.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Megan #816.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1976–2004
Laura held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Megan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #36 and #33; by 1983 that had become #24 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Laura #42, Megan #91.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1978–2005
Laura held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Megan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Megan #19 in 1981.
The order changed in 1983: Laura moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #57 and #23; by 1983 that had become #24 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Laura #69, Megan #97.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Laura held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Megan in 23.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2021: Laura moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #178 and #149; by 2021 that had become #190 and #237.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Laura #243, 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 | Laura | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. |
| Origin | Latin | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin.
- Laura and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Megan's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Laura 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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 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