Megan vs Tracy
Megan and Tracycompared 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 1981, Megan was ranked #30 and Tracy #99 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1985, Megan was ranked #30 and Tracy #100 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2010, Megan was ranked #37 and Tracy #758 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Megan was ranked #503 and Tracy #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Megan and Tracy over time
Megan and Tracy appear together in 4 published lists, across 103 years of shared records. Megan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tracy in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Tracy 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan moved into the top 50 at #32 in 1976 as Tracy fell out of it to #51, having been #29 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1976, Megan moved ahead of Tracy in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #32 and #29 the year before became #32 and #51.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan and Tracy averaged 26.3 places apart, ending at #30 and #99.
- Mirrored each other
Over 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Megan rose about as far as Tracy fell — from #91 and #59 in 1960 to #30 and #99 in 1981.
- Longest-running competitions
Megan and Tracy were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 30 years, from 1976 to 2010, ending at #37 and #758.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Megan #3 in 1998, Tracy #686 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls30 shared years, 1976–2010
Megan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Tracy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Megan #8 in 1998, Tracy #68 in 1977.
The order changed in 1989: Megan moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #110 and #90; by 1989 that had become #89 and #105.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Megan #37, Tracy #758.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Megan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tracy in 0.
Highest recorded here: Megan #3 in 1998, Tracy #686 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Megan #503, Tracy #4843.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1962–1985
Megan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tracy in 10.
Highest recorded here: Megan #18 in 1974, Tracy #11 in 1970.
The order changed in 1973: Megan moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #24 and #15; by 1973 that had become #21 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Megan #30, Tracy #100.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls21 shared years, 1960–1981
Megan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Tracy in 15.
Highest recorded here: Megan #30 in 1974, Tracy #21 in 1970.
The order changed in 1976: Megan moved ahead. In 1975 they stood at #32 and #29; by 1976 that had become #32 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Megan #30, Tracy #99.
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 | Tracy |
|---|---|---|
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #352 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| 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); Tracy does not have one recorded yet.
- Megan and Tracy both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Megan; Tracy doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Megan a "high" Data Confidence level and Tracy 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
Tracy
Popularity journey
First recorded1960
First recorded at #59 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1960 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1961–1985
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in New Zealand, in 1970 (recorded 1961–1985).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls