Megan vs Tania
Megan and Taniacompared 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 1991, Megan was ranked #24 and Tania #100 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Megan was ranked #30 and Tania #95 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2009, Megan was ranked #30 and Tania #419 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Megan was ranked #37 and Tania #910 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Megan was ranked #816 and Tania #2440 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Tania over time
Megan and Tania appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tania in 1.
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.
Tania reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 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 #30 in 1985 as Tania fell out of it to #53, having been #29 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1985, Megan moved ahead of Tania in New Zealand · Girls — #30 and #29 the year before became #30 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Megan and Tania changed places 4 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1962 and 1981, ending at #30 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Megan and Tania averaged 27.2 places apart, ending at #24 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Tania were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #816 and #2440.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Tania #460 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Megan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Tania in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Tania #460 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Megan #816, Tania #2440.
New Zealand · Girls29 shared years, 1962–1991
Megan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tania in 22.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Tania #4 in 1968.
The order changed in 1985: Megan moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #30 and #29; by 1985 that had become #30 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Megan #24, Tania #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls18 shared years, 1962–1981
Megan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tania in 4.
Highest recorded here: Megan #30 in 1974, Tania #41 in 1966.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Megan #30, Tania #95.
Republic of Ireland · Girls17 shared years, 1976–2010
Megan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Tania in 3.
Highest recorded here: Megan #10 in 2001, Tania #336 in 1990.
The order changed in 1986: Megan moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #529 and #529; by 1986 that had become #211 and #388.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Megan #37, Tania #910.
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 | Tania |
|---|---|---|
| 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) | England and Wales · Girls #2440 (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); Tania does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Tania both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Tania 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 Tania 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
Tania
Popularity journey
First recorded1962
First recorded at #93 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1962 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1962–1991
Highest recorded position: #4 among girls in New Zealand, in 1968 (recorded 1962–1991).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2440 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls