Lauren vs Megan
Lauren 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, Lauren was ranked #36 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Lauren was ranked #76 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lauren was ranked #118 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Lauren was ranked #354 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lauren was ranked #638 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lauren was ranked #934 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Lauren and Megan over time
Lauren and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Lauren held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Megan in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lauren 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 1997, Megan moved ahead of Lauren in England and Wales · Girls — #5 and #10 the year before became #8 and #5.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lauren and Megan changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1978 and 2005, ending at #76 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lauren and Megan averaged 33.2 places apart, ending at #36 and #91.
- Longest-running competitions
Lauren and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 45 years, from 1979 to 2025, ending at #118 and #352.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Lauren #5 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #5 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #934 and #503.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls45 shared years, 1979–2025
Lauren held the stronger position in 39 of those years, Megan in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #6 in 2001, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Lauren moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #10 and #8; by 1999 that had become #9 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lauren #118, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lauren held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Megan in 28.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #5 in 1996, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 1997: Megan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #5 and #10; by 1997 that had become #8 and #5.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lauren #934, Megan #503.
New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1978–2005
Lauren held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Megan in 13.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #19 in 1990, Megan #19 in 1981.
The order changed in 1994: Lauren moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #40 and #36; by 1994 that had become #28 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Lauren #76, Megan #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls27 shared years, 1977–2004
Lauren held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Megan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #5 in 1984, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1979: Lauren moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #64 and #34; by 1979 that had become #30 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Lauren #36, Megan #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Lauren held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Megan in 21.
Highest recorded here: Lauren #2 in 2001, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2002: Megan moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #2 and #5; by 2002 that had become #6 and #4.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Lauren #354, 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 | Lauren | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A variant/feminine form of Laurence, tracing to the place name Laurentum. First popularized as a feminine name by actress Lauren Bacall (born Betty Jean Perske). | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. |
| Origin | Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ən/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #118 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Lauren is recorded with a Latin (place name origin), via a modern stage-name origin, while Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin.
- Lauren and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- Lauren'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 Lauren 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
Lauren
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #466 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2023
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2023).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #118 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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