Megan Name Meaning

A beautiful name meaning “pearl,” Megan has seen steady popularity on the charts. She’s fun and light, wearing well on the modern girl. We love her nickname potential and see Meggy as a super cute option for a spunky little one on the move. She’s a magnificent way to honor a Margaret too, as the names are linked in meaning.

Infographic of Megan name meaning, which is Meaning "pearl," Megan is a Welsh name.
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Megan Name Popularity

How popular is the name Megan? Here’s everything we know.

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 0 0%
1911 — 0 0%
1912 — 0 0%
1913 — 0 0%
1914 — 0 0%
1915 — 0 0%
1916 — 0 0%
1917 — 0 0%
1918 — 0 0%
1919 — 0 0%
1920 — 0 0%
1921 — 0 0%
1922 — 0 0%
1923 — 0 0%
1924 — 0 0%
1925 — 0 0%
1926 — 0 0%
1927 — 0 0%
1928 — 0 0%
1929 — 0 0%
1930 — 0 0%
1931 — 0 0%
1932 — 0 0%
1933 — 0 0%
1934 — 0 0%
1935 — 0 0%
1936 — 0 0%
1937 — 0 0%
1938 — 0 0%
1939 — 0 0%
1940 — 0 0%
1941 — 0 0%
1942 — 0 0%
1943 1,656 5 0.0004%
1944 — 0 0%
1945 1,485 6 0.0005%
1946 1,414 11 0.0007%
1947 1,823 5 0.0003%
1948 1,468 11 0.0007%
1949 1,562 8 0.0005%
1950 1,155 27 0.0017%
1951 959 49 0.0029%
1952 839 73 0.0042%
1953 721 114 0.0064%
1954 742 109 0.006%
1955 651 157 0.0085%
1956 716 134 0.0071%
1957 597 217 0.0113%
1958 570 250 0.0132%
1959 521 305 0.0161%
1960 505 316 0.0167%
1961 482 359 0.019%
1962 497 330 0.018%
1963 468 384 0.0214%
1964 433 468 0.0266%
1965 373 558 0.0341%
1966 355 612 0.0392%
1967 327 668 0.044%
1968 307 779 0.0519%
1969 276 995 0.0646%
1970 245 1,235 0.0776%
1971 200 1,466 0.0976%
1972 182 1,565 0.1149%
1973 141 2,012 0.1552%
1974 105 2,809 0.2161%
1975 69 4,190 0.3261%
1976 62 4,465 0.3464%
1977 54 5,322 0.3948%
1978 41 5,896 0.4385%
1979 31 8,291 0.588%
1980 30 9,139 0.625%
1981 33 8,967 0.61%
1982 34 9,517 0.6369%
1983 21 14,125 0.9572%
1984 11 16,979 1.1414%
1985 10 20,013 1.3185%
1986 11 18,593 1.2318%
1987 12 17,823 1.1679%
1988 12 18,567 1.1914%
1989 11 19,782 1.2259%
1990 11 20,256 1.2221%
1991 11 19,277 1.1827%
1992 10 17,842 1.1178%
1993 11 16,384 1.0509%
1994 10 16,579 1.0803%
1995 13 15,529 1.0304%
1996 12 14,768 0.9863%
1997 11 14,242 0.9629%
1998 13 13,253 0.8855%
1999 15 12,225 0.8163%
2000 18 11,434 0.7485%
2001 20 10,298 0.6835%
2002 22 9,209 0.6145%
2003 30 7,799 0.5126%
2004 36 6,686 0.4387%
2005 41 5,852 0.3827%
2006 60 4,942 0.3156%
2007 78 4,121 0.2612%
2008 100 3,407 0.2204%
2009 105 3,052 0.2042%
2010 131 2,387 0.1656%
2011 164 1,903 0.1336%
2012 196 1,545 0.1084%
2013 246 1,229 0.0863%
2014 297 1,043 0.0716%
2015 372 825 0.0567%
2016 420 715 0.0496%
2017 475 594 0.0426%
2018 520 522 0.038%
2019 575 453 0.0335%
2020 647 396 0.0311%
2021 618 411 0.0336%
2022 712 365 0.0277%

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California (CA)

Colorado (CO)

Connecticut (CT)

District of Columbia (DC)

Delaware (DE)

Florida (FL)

Georgia (GA)

Hawaii (HI)

Iowa (IA)

Idaho (ID)

Illinois (IL)

Indiana (IN)

Kansas (KS)

Kentucky (KY)

Louisiana (LA)

Massachusetts (MA)

Maryland (MD)

Maine (ME)

Michigan (MI)

Minnesota (MN)

Missouri (MO)

Mississippi (MS)

Montana (MT)

North Carolina (NC)

North Dakota (ND)

Nebraska (NE)

New Hampshire (NH)

New Jersey (NJ)

New Mexico (NM)

Nevada (NV)

New York (NY)

Ohio (OH)

Oklahoma (OK)

Oregon (OR)

Pennsylvania (PA)

Rhode Island (RI)

South Carolina (SC)

South Dakota (SD)

Tennessee (TN)

Texas (TX)

Utah (UT)

Virginia (VA)

Vermont (VT)

Washington (WA)

Wisconsin (WI)

West Virginia (WV)

Wyoming (WY)

Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Megan

If you like Megan, you’ll love these other names like Megan.

What names are diminutives of Megan?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Megan sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Megan, but shorter.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Meg

“The little pearl.” A diminutive form, through the Scottish, of Margaret.

Greek

Meggi

Pearl

Welsh

Meggie

Pearl

Welsh

What names are variants of Megan?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Megan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Maegan

Welsh

Maygan

Welsh

Meagan

Welsh

Meaghan

Welsh

Megen

Welsh

Meggan

Welsh

Meghan

Pearl

Welsh

Meghann

Welsh

Meghanne

Welsh

Meighan

Welsh

What names sound like Megan?

If you like how Megan sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Megan.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Macon
Meeghan

Soft, gentle

Gaelic

Reagan

Descendent of Riagan

Irish

What names are similar to Megan?

Find a name that’s like Megan, but just a little bit different.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Anna

Gracious

Hebrew

Ashley

Ash tree meadow

English

Brittany

From Brittany or Great Britain

Latin

Chelsea

Chalk landing place

English

Emily

To excel

Latin

Hannah

Grace

Hebrew

Rebecca

To join

Hebrew

Ruby

Red gemstone

English

Tiffany

Revelation of God

Greek

Victoria

Victory

Latin

Lists With Megan

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Megan.

Siblings of Megan

Mamas with kids named Megan also have kids with these names.

Name Meaning Origin Popularity Other Gender
Michael

Who is Like God?

Hebrew

Rebecca

To join

Hebrew

Katherine

Pure

Greek

Audrey

Noble strength

English

Samuel

Name of God

Hebrew

20 Comments

  1. It’s a really good name and I really like it. So to all those Megan-Name-haters, leave the name alone. There are so many people with the name Megan that like it. Example, myself.

    Reply

    • I hate the name and there is nothing you can do about it

      Reply

  2. Megan is the best name, I really like it and the fact it means pearl because pearls are pretty

    Reply

  3. I love my name Megan Leah. In my family my parents chose the name Megan because of an older soap opera star. But regardless I’ve always liked my name because I never knew another Megan all throughout my school days. I was born in 1980 and I’m also a ginger so I think this Megan is pretty unique!

    Reply

  4. My *Megan* is an only child who somewhat likes her name. I chose *Megan* because it
    is sophisticated and a bit regal sounding to me and she lives up to both qualities.

    Reply

  5. UGLY NAME!

    Reply

  6. i hate my name

    Reply

  7. I hate my name. My father got to pick it and chose it because he had loved the actress Meg Ryan and thought Megan sounded good. My name is pronounced how this says it should be, but I’m constantly called Mae(gen) and it grinds my gears. My name is also always spelled in so many different ways, all of which have haunted me at some point. That’s probably because there are so many Megan’s born around the same time. I’ve personally known five other Megan’s besides myself and have hated every minute of it. Though If you like the name, I say go for it. It’s been fading out over the years and future kids might have a way better time than I did. At least the meaning is cute.

    Reply

    • Agreed. It’s ironic that Megan’s I have met have all hated their names, or at best okay with it/neutral. While parents not named Megan seem to love it. Parents I beg you do not name your child Megan! If you have to name her Margaret or Margot or something similar and just call her Megan as a nickname or something.

      Reply

    • As a fellow Megan, I hate the way people say my name (Mae((gen)). It’s irks me so badly, I just go by Meg now & accept all the family guy jokes that come along with it. Megan Thee Stallion is the only good thing that has happened to the name Megan.

      Reply

  8. I named my daughter Megan. Because I was very young 17. Yrs old. and her father was never gonna be in the picture.. I KNEW I WAS GONNA DO IT ALONE. SO I DID!! I worked 3 jobs at times
    But why she’s named Megan is I worked in the Fla keys. And at work , I got really got reeled into soaps operas on TV. One life to live! Was my favorite. Due to at my job. I cleaned room Condos,cottages ,& houseboats and I would turn on tv in the rooms while I cleaned. Mostly listened while I worked. So , there was a actress on there. Who was drying of Lupus named Megan. She was Sarah’s sister. On the show. And I took a real liking to her.,, And when she died. Rip Megan!! On the show !! I got so mad. That I quit watching it..!! But , Megan didn’t die. She was born July 21,1992 And SHES now 30 yrs old .. And she is truly the best gift from god along with her brother but ,she’s loyal,honest, logical, the most understanding person I know. She is so sweet, super intelligent, fun, and so full of life, she loves adventurers, she’s a bit timid and some what shy. Until she gets to knows you.. She also witty, and can be soo goofy.and silly both.
    Especially when she’s tired… And more then anything GOAL OREINTED!! Very hard working!! Never misses a day of work ever!! She’ll be miserable with allergies or headache and will still go to work! I thank god daily for giving her to me!! And I’m very proud to have her as my daughter! I love you !! MEGAN ASHLEY. And your a real pearl! For real.

    Reply

  9. Hmm,i really don’t know why i was named Megan but i adore it so much and thanks to my parents for choosing that name.

    Reply

  10. I never met another Megan older than me, I was born in 1963.

    Reply

  11. We named our oldest daughter Meghan after my mother, Margaret. Meghan is now 26 and my mom passed away in February.
    Meghan cherishes her name even more, as the two were extremely close.

    Reply

  12. Megan is such a nice name and Meghan is a nice name too… and here is this spelling. “Meagan“.

    Reply

  13. My husband and I choose Megan because it fits our daughter that we couldn’t think of anything else

    Reply

  14. Loved Meghan Markle’s story and that time I was pregnant for my girl so when he was born I named her Megan

    Reply

    • Always thought it was such an ugly, harsh sounding name. meG EN ugh. Doesn’t help it was extremely common and considered “basic.” Don’t forget it doesn’t actually doesn’t mean anything and is simply a nickname for a much more beautiful, established name; Margaret. Saint Margaret. What is there or Megan? Once finding out from my parents they chose it randomly and don’t really care that much either way about it, I am currently in the process of legally changing my name. Currently go by the short May, and couldn’t feel better about it. For the first time in my life, I have actually gotten compliments for it.

      Reply

  15. Megan means Precious Gem. It means the same as my mother’s name, Margaret. It was a compromise with my husband because he didn’t care for my first choice of Mary Elizabeth. So, our daughter is Megan Elizabeth.

    Reply

    • Awww that’s my name

      Reply

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