Namewise

Megan vs Michelle

Megan and Michellecompared 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 1999, Megan was ranked #39 and Michelle #81 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 2000, Megan was ranked #77 and Michelle #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2019, Megan was ranked #144 and Michelle #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Megan was ranked #384 and Michelle #260 among girls in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Michelle #304 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Megan was ranked #503 and Michelle #360 among girls in England and Wales.

Megan and Michelle over time

Megan and Michelle appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Michelle in 2.

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.

Michelle reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Megan 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 1997, Megan moved ahead of Michelle in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #60 and #56 the year before became #48 and #69.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Megan and Michelle changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1958 and 2000, ending at #77 and #85.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Michelle averaged 31.4 places apart, ending at #77 and #85.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Megan and Michelle were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 43 years, from 1958 to 2000, ending at #77 and #85.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Michelle #153 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025

    Megan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Michelle in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Michelle #2 in 1979.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Michelle #304.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls43 shared years, 1958–2000

    Megan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Michelle in 36.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Michelle #1 in 1967.

    The order changed in 1997: Megan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56; by 1997 that had become #48 and #69.

    Most recent shared year, 2000: Megan #77, Michelle #85.

  • New Zealand · Girls38 shared years, 1962–1999

    Megan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Michelle in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Michelle #1 in 1966.

    The order changed in 1993: Megan moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #39 and #30; by 1993 that had become #36 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 1999: Megan #39, Michelle #81.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Megan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Michelle in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Michelle #153 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2023: Michelle moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #342 and #419; by 2023 that had become #516 and #332.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Megan #503, Michelle #360.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1997–2019

    Megan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Michelle in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Michelle #111 in 2000.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Megan #144, Michelle #424.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Megan

Pairs where Megan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Michelle

Pairs where Michelle shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Megan, Michelle
FieldMeganMichelle
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century.Not yet recorded
OriginWelsh, diminutive of MargaretNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈmɛɡ.an/
Syllables23
Common variants / nicknamesMeghan, Meagan, MaeganNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #304 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10076/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Michelle does not have one recorded yet.
  • Megan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Michelle.
  • A meaning is recorded for Megan; Michelle 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 Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Michelle a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Megan

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1996–2024

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #352 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Michelle

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1952–2000

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1967 (recorded 1952–2000).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #329 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls