Megan vs Therese
Megan and Theresecompared 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 1968, Megan was ranked #52 and Therese #98 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Megan was ranked #65 and Therese #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Megan was ranked #144 and Therese #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2023, Megan was ranked #516 and Therese #4709 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Therese over time
Megan and Therese appear together in 4 published lists, across 80 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Therese 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.
Therese reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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 1964, Megan moved ahead of Therese in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #96 and #77 the year before became #63 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Therese were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 36 years, from 1976 to 2015, ending at #65 and #896.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Megan #52 in 1965, Therese #73 in 1964.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls36 shared years, 1976–2015
Megan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Therese in 9.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Therese #140 in 1979.
The order changed in 1988: Megan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #181 and #152; by 1988 that had become #110 and #180.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Megan #65, Therese #896.
England and Wales · Girls22 shared years, 1996–2023
Megan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Therese #2084 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Megan #516, Therese #4709.
Northern Ireland · Girls12 shared years, 1997–2019
Megan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Therese in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #4 in 2002, Therese #206 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Megan #144, Therese #424.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1958–1968
Megan held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Therese in 6.
Highest recorded here: Megan #52 in 1965, Therese #73 in 1964.
The order changed in 1964: Megan moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #96 and #77; by 1964 that had become #63 and #73.
Most recent shared year, 1968: Megan #52, Therese #98.
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 | Therese |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | |
| 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, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | Norway · Girls #487 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| 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); Therese does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Therese.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Therese doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Therese 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
Therese
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among girls in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1946–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among girls in Norway, in 1986 (recorded 1946–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #487 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls