Lucy vs Megan
Lucy 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 2005, Lucy was ranked #13 and Megan #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lucy was ranked #16 and Megan #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Lucy was ranked #23 and Megan #266 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lucy was ranked #28 and Megan #384 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2004, Lucy was ranked #30 and Megan #91 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lucy was ranked #123 and Megan #503 among girls in England and Wales.
Lucy and Megan over time
Lucy and Megan appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Lucy 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.
Megan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Lucy 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Lucy moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1998 as Megan fell out of it to #58, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Lucy moved ahead of Megan in England and Wales · Girls — #7 and #6 the year before became #7 and #10.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Lucy and Megan averaged 31.3 places apart, ending at #13 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Lucy and Megan were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 47 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #16 and #352.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #15 and #10 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #503.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Lucy held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Megan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #3 in 2016, Megan #8 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lucy #16, Megan #352.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lucy held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Megan in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #7 in 2003, Megan #3 in 1998.
The order changed in 2004: Lucy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #7 and #6; by 2004 that had become #7 and #10.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucy #123, Megan #503.
Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022
Lucy held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Megan in 7.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #4 in 2007, Megan #4 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Lucy moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #13 and #9; by 2004 that had become #13 and #19.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Lucy #23, Megan #266.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1979–2005
Lucy held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Megan in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #13 in 2005, Megan #22 in 1979.
The order changed in 1995: Lucy moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #46 and #44; by 1995 that had become #47 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Lucy #13, Megan #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1985–2004
Lucy held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Megan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #24 in 2001, Megan #20 in 1987.
The order changed in 1998: Lucy moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #51 and #48; by 1998 that had become #44 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Lucy #30, Megan #91.
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 | Lucy | Megan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. | 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 | /ˈluː.si/ | /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 #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Lucy is recorded with a Latin origin, while Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin.
- Lucy and Megan both have 2 syllables.
- Lucy'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 Lucy 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
Lucy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #523 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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