Megan vs Raewyn
Megan and Raewyncompared 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 1971, Megan was ranked #35 and Raewyn #95 among girls in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Megan was ranked #83 and Raewyn #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Raewyn over time
Megan and Raewyn appear together in 1 published list, across 10 years of shared records. Raewyn held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Megan 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.
Raewyn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #27 in 1968 as Raewyn fell out of it to #53, having been #50 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1968, Megan moved ahead of Raewyn in New Zealand · Girls — #52 and #50 the year before became #27 and #53.
List by list
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1962–1971
Megan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Raewyn in 6.
Highest recorded here: Megan #27 in 1968, Raewyn #34 in 1962.
The order changed in 1968: Megan moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #52 and #50; by 1968 that had become #27 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1971: Megan #35, Raewyn #95.
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 | Raewyn |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5785 (2016) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Raewyn does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Raewyn both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Raewyn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Raewyn 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
Raewyn
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #30 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1971
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1971).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent1971
Most recently recorded at #95 among girls in New Zealand, in 1971.
New Zealand · Girls