Megan vs Rachael
Megan and Rachaelcompared 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 1994, Megan was ranked #44 and Rachael #91 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2001, Megan was ranked #71 and Rachael #100 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Megan was ranked #91 and Rachael #432 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Megan was ranked #266 and Rachael #747 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Rachael #3705 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Rachael over time
Megan and Rachael appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Rachael in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Rachael reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 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 1990, Megan moved ahead of Rachael in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #89 and #72 the year before became #65 and #72.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Rachael averaged 19.3 places apart, ending at #71 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Rachael were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #3705.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Rachael #77 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1976–2022
Megan held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Rachael in 11.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Rachael #56 in 1994.
The order changed in 1990: Megan moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #89 and #72; by 1990 that had become #65 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Megan #266, Rachael #747.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls32 shared years, 1970–2001
Megan held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Rachael #41 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Megan #71, Rachael #100.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Rachael #77 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Rachael #3705.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1969–1994
Megan held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Rachael in 1.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Rachael #25 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1994: Megan #44, Rachael #91.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2017
Megan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Rachael in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Rachael #25 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Megan #91, Rachael #432.
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 | Megan | Rachael |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Meghan, Meagan, Maegan | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3705 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Rachael does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Rachael both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Rachael doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Rachael 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
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
Rachael
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #245 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1969–1994
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1969–1994).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls