Megan vs Sally
Megan and Sallycompared 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 1979, Megan was ranked #22 and Sally #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1993, Megan was ranked #34 and Sally #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2021, Megan was ranked #237 and Sally #446 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Sally #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Megan was ranked #503 and Sally #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Sally over time
Megan and Sally appear together in 5 published lists, across 139 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Sally in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Sally reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Megan in 1. 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 1978, Megan moved ahead of Sally in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #39 and #36 the year before became #34 and #43.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Sally averaged 23.6 places apart, ending at #34 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan rose about as far as Sally fell — from #98 and #65 in 1958 to #34 and #99 in 1993.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Sally were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Girls for 34 years, from 1958 to 1993, ending at #34 and #99.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Sally #144 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Sally in 8.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Sally #153 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Sally #239.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1958–1993
Megan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Sally in 7.
Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Sally #36 in 1977.
The order changed in 1978: Megan moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #39 and #36; by 1978 that had become #34 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Megan #34, Sally #99.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Megan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Sally #144 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Megan #503, Sally #1743.
New Zealand · Girls18 shared years, 1962–1979
Megan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sally in 4.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Sally #57 in 1965.
The order changed in 1966: Megan moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #60 and #57; by 1966 that had become #51 and #62.
Most recent shared year, 1979: Megan #22, Sally #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls11 shared years, 1999–2021
Megan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Sally in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #5 in 1999, Sally #230 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Megan #237, Sally #446.
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 | Sally |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| 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); Sally does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Sally both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Sally 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 Sally 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 recorded1996–2024
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
Sally
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #93 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
Highest recorded1952–1993
Highest recorded position: #36 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1977 (recorded 1952–1993).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls