Namewise

Megan vs Shannon

Megan and Shannoncompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Megan was ranked #58 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Megan was ranked #51 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2022, Megan was ranked #266 and Shannon #243 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Megan and Shannon over time

Megan and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 146 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon 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.

Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Megan in 2. 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, Shannon moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1998 as Megan fell out of it to #58, having been #48 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1998, Shannon moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #48 and #64 the year before became #58 and #50.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Megan and Shannon changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1976 and 2001, ending at #51 and #83.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Shannon averaged 38.2 places apart, ending at #58 and #50.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Megan and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #2138.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Shannon #11 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #10 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #816 and #2138.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1976–2025

    Megan held the stronger position in 40 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Shannon #11 in 1995.

    The order changed in 1996: Megan moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #14 and #11; by 1996 that had become #10 and #17.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Shannon #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Megan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Shannon #11 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Shannon #2138.

  • New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001

    Megan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shannon in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #19 in 1981, Shannon #31 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Megan #51, Shannon #83.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2022

    Megan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shannon in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Shannon #2 in 1997.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Megan #266, Shannon #243.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1974–1998

    Megan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shannon in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Shannon #45 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1998: Shannon moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #48 and #64; by 1998 that had become #58 and #50.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Megan #58, Shannon #50.

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 Shannon

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Megan, Shannon
FieldMeganShannon
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/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesMeghan, Meagan, MaeganNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Megan has a recorded origin (Welsh, diminutive of Margaret); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Megan and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Megan; Shannon 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 Shannon 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 recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #816 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls