Megan vs Stephanie
Megan and Stephaniecompared 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 2004, Megan was ranked #91 and Stephanie #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Megan was ranked #97 and Stephanie #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Megan was ranked #149 and Stephanie #333 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #352 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Megan was ranked #384 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Stephanie over time
Megan and Stephanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 177 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stephanie 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.
Stephanie 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1985, Stephanie moved ahead of Megan in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #31 and #33 the year before became #31 and #27.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Stephanie averaged 35.5 places apart, ending at #91 and #49.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls47 shared years, 1976–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Stephanie in 14.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #352, Stephanie #294.
New Zealand · Girls40 shared years, 1962–2005
Megan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephanie in 17.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Stephanie #11 in 1991.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Megan #97, Stephanie #99.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls39 shared years, 1965–2004
Megan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Stephanie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Megan #20 in 1987, Stephanie #5 in 1994.
The order changed in 1985: Stephanie moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #31 and #33; by 1985 that had become #31 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Megan #91, Stephanie #49.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stephanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Stephanie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #503 and #811; by 2025 that had become #816 and #719.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Stephanie #719.
Northern Ireland · Girls21 shared years, 1997–2020
Megan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2000, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Megan #149, Stephanie #333.
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 | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A Welsh diminutive of Margaret that became independently used; only regularly used outside Wales since the mid-20th century. | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Welsh, diminutive of Margaret | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈmɛɡ.an/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Megan is recorded with a Welsh, diminutive of Margaret origin, while Stephanie is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Megan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- Megan's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Stephanie 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
Stephanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2010
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls