Lilly vs Megan
Lilly 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, Lilly was ranked #86 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Lilly was ranked #89 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lilly was ranked #130 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lilly was ranked #138 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lilly was ranked #141 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Lilly was ranked #201 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Lilly and Megan over time
Lilly and Megan appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Lilly in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Lilly 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2011, Lilly moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #39 and #23 the year before became #27 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lilly and Megan changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1983 and 2025, ending at #141 and #352.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lilly held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Megan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #27 in 2011, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2011: Lilly moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #39 and #23; by 2011 that had become #27 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lilly #130, Megan #503.
Republic of Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1983–2025
Lilly held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Megan in 20.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #75 in 2012, Megan #10 in 1999.
The order changed in 2022: Lilly moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #160 and #133; by 2022 that had become #134 and #266.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lilly #141, Megan #352.
Northern Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 2005–2022
Lilly held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Megan in 15.
Highest recorded here: Lilly #106 in 2011, Megan #20 in 2005.
The order changed in 2020: Lilly moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #167 and #144; by 2020 that had become #119 and #149.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Lilly #201, 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 | Lilly | 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 | Norway · Girls #38 (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); Lilly does not have one recorded yet.
- Lilly and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Lilly 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 Lilly 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
Lilly
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #150 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #27 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #38 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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