Megan Girl

Popularity: #653 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MEG-uhn //ˈmɛɡən//

Origin: Welsh; Greek

Meaning: Welsh: pearl; Greek: great

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Megan is of Welsh origin, derived from the diminutive form of the name Margaret, which itself comes from the Greek word 'margaritēs', meaning 'pearl'. The transition from Greek to Latin occurred as 'margarita', which was then adopted into Old French as 'Marguerite'.

The Welsh form, 'Megan', emerged in the Middle Ages, particularly gaining traction in Wales, where it was often used as a pet form of Margaret. This linguistic evolution reflects the broader cultural exchanges that occurred in Britain through the Norman Conquest and subsequent interactions between Welsh and English speakers.

Historically, the name Megan has been associated with various notable figures and events. One significant milestone is its use in the context of Welsh literature and folklore, where it appears in various texts from the 12th century onward.

The name gained further recognition through the influence of saints, particularly Saint Margaret of Antioch, who was venerated in medieval Christianity. The name's presence in religious texts and its association with purity and virtue contributed to its enduring appeal in Welsh culture and beyond.

Culturally, Megan has resonated with themes of beauty and grace, often symbolized by its connection to pearls. The name's simplicity and melodic quality have allowed it to endure through centuries, making it a favored choice in various contexts.

Additionally, the name has been embraced in literature and the arts, further solidifying its place in cultural consciousness. The diminutive 'Meg' has also been used historically, reflecting a more intimate or affectionate form of the name, which has been present in English literature since at least the 17th century.

Famous people named Megan

In this section, you will find notable people named Megan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Megan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Megan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Megan Fox is an actress best known for Transformers, Jennifer's Body, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Megan Rapinoe is a soccer player best known for winning the FIFA Women's World Cup and Olympic gold medal.

Megan Mullally is an actress best known for Will & Grace, Parks and Recreation, and Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman: Summer of 69.

Megan Hilty is an actress and singer best known for Smash, Wicked, and 9 to 5: The Musical.

Megan Thee Stallion is a rapper best known for Hot Girl Summer, Savage, and Body.

Megan Follows is an actress best known for Anne of Green Gables, The Royal Diaries, and Reign.

Megan Park is an actress and filmmaker best known for The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Fallout, and The Christmas Chronicles.

Fictional characters named Megan

The following list of fictional characters named Megan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Megan is a fictional character from the film Megan Leavey. She is a Marine who forms a strong bond with a military working dog during her deployment in Iraq.

Megan is a fictional character from the TV series The Office. She is a minor character who works in the office and is known for her interactions with the main cast.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Megan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MadisonMollyMayaMiaMabel

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Megan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

MeghanMargaretMilaMiraMaraMina

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Megan was first seen in the United States in 1922.

Megan has ranked as high as #35 nationally, which occurred in 1990, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.

In the past 5 years the name Megan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Megan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Megan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Megan.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 301 0 301
2024 369 0 369
2023 417 0 417
2022 399 0 399
2021 490 0 490
2020 453 0 453
2019 499 0 499
2018 565 0 565
2017 631 0 631
2016 751 0 751
2015 855 0 855
2014 1,070 6 1,064
2013 1,246 0 1,246
2012 1,561 0 1,561
2011 1,915 0 1,915
2010 2,406 0 2,406
2009 3,063 5 3,058
2008 3,416 0 3,416
2007 4,133 9 4,124
2006 4,954 8 4,946
2005 5,862 6 5,856
2004 6,722 35 6,687
2003 7,810 10 7,800
2002 9,226 16 9,210
2001 10,317 17 10,300
2000 11,450 14 11,436
1999 12,241 11 12,230
1998 13,279 21 13,258
1997 14,262 18 14,244
1996 14,790 20 14,770
1995 15,558 28 15,530
1994 16,611 31 16,580
1993 16,414 30 16,384
1992 17,875 33 17,842
1991 19,309 31 19,278
1990 20,303 44 20,259
1989 19,862 82 19,780
1988 18,631 61 18,570
1987 17,884 61 17,823
1986 18,651 61 18,590
1985 20,093 80 20,013
1984 17,034 50 16,984
1983 14,174 50 14,124
1982 9,568 50 9,518
1981 9,004 40 8,964
1980 9,169 35 9,134
1979 8,320 27 8,293
1978 5,919 24 5,895
1977 5,340 20 5,320
1976 4,483 20 4,463
1975 4,202 11 4,191
1974 2,830 12 2,818
1973 2,030 9 2,021
1972 1,594 7 1,587
1971 1,506 6 1,500
1970 1,267 0 1,267
1969 1,031 0 1,031
1968 817 5 812
1967 709 0 709
1966 655 0 655
1965 609 0 609
1964 512 0 512
1963 432 0 432
1962 391 0 391
1961 400 0 400
1960 365 0 365
1959 358 0 358
1958 301 0 301
1957 258 0 258
1956 197 0 197
1955 198 0 198
1954 153 0 153
1953 156 0 156
1952 119 0 119
1951 86 0 86
1950 61 0 61
1949 30 0 30
1948 28 0 28
1947 29 0 29
1946 22 0 22
1945 24 0 24
1944 16 0 16
1943 21 0 21
1942 12 0 12
1940 9 0 9
1939 6 0 6
1936 7 0 7
1935 7 0 7
1934 8 0 8
1933 7 0 7
1931 7 0 7
1930 5 0 5
1927 7 0 7
1926 5 0 5
1924 7 0 7
1923 13 0 13
1922 7 0 7

Top States for Megan (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 62
19%
FL 58
18%
CA 39
12%
NY 25
8%
PA 11
3%
NC 11
3%
NJ 10
3%
GA 10
3%
IL 10
3%
AZ 10
3%
VA 9
3%
CO 8
3%
TN 8
3%
OH 7
2%
IN 7
2%
UT 6
2%
MI 6
2%
OK 6
2%
MD 6
2%
MO 6
2%
NE 5
2%