Megan vs Stacey
Megan and Staceycompared 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 1993, Megan was ranked #34 and Stacey #96 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2012, Megan was ranked #38 and Stacey #451 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Megan was ranked #42 and Stacey #97 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Megan was ranked #372 and Stacey #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Megan was ranked #503 and Stacey #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Stacey over time
Megan and Stacey appear together in 5 published lists, across 120 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stacey 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.
Stacey 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #35 in 1991 as Stacey fell out of it to #61, having been #39 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Megan moved ahead of Stacey in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #65 and #39 the year before became #35 and #61.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Megan and Stacey changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1973 and 1996, ending at #42 and #97.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Megan and Stacey averaged 22.0 places apart, ending at #42 and #97.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Stacey were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 38 years, from 1977 to 2024, ending at #372 and #898.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Stacey #97 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls38 shared years, 1977–2024
Megan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stacey in 11.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Stacey #39 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Megan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #65 and #39; by 1991 that had become #35 and #61.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Megan #372, Stacey #898.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Megan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Stacey #97 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Megan #503, Stacey #3015.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1973–1996
Megan held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stacey in 9.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Stacey #15 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Megan #42, Stacey #97.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls17 shared years, 1977–1993
Megan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Stacey #34 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Megan #34, Stacey #96.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2012
Megan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stacey in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Stacey #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2012: Megan #38, Stacey #451.
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 | Stacey |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| 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); Stacey does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Stacey both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Stacey 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 Stacey 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
Stacey
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #99 among girls in New Zealand in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1973–1996
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in New Zealand, in 1984 (recorded 1973–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3015 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls