Meghan Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: MEG-uhn /ˈmɛɡən/
Origin: Irish; Welsh
Meaning: Irish: pearl; Welsh: strong
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Meghan is derived from the Welsh name 'Meghan,' which is a diminutive form of 'Margaret.' The etymology of Margaret traces back to the Greek word 'margaritēs,' meaning 'pearl.' This Greek term was adopted into Latin as 'margarita,' which then influenced the Old French 'Marguerite' before evolving into the various forms of the name in English, including Meghan. The transition into English occurred in the medieval period, with the name becoming more widely recognized through its association with the broader family of names derived from Margaret.
Historically, the name Margaret has been borne by numerous notable figures, including saints and queens. Saint Margaret of Scotland, who lived in the 11th century, is one of the most prominent historical bearers of the name, known for her piety and charitable works.
Her influence was significant in the Christianization of Scotland, and she was canonized in 1250. The name's enduring presence in various cultures can also be attributed to its appearance in literary works and translations, such as the King James Bible, which contributed to the name's familiarity and acceptance in English-speaking regions.
Culturally, the name Meghan, like its root name Margaret, is often associated with qualities of purity and beauty, symbolized by the pearl. This connection has allowed the name to resonate across different cultures and eras, maintaining its relevance through various adaptations and diminutive forms.
The name Meghan has been embraced in various contexts, reflecting a blend of historical significance and cultural symbolism that has contributed to its lasting appeal.
Famous people named Meghan
In this section, you will find notable people named Meghan. 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 Meghan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Meghan 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.
Meghan Markle is an actress and humanitarian best known for Suits, The Tig, and her marriage to Prince Harry.
Meghan Trainor is a singer-songwriter best known for All About That Bass, Lips Are Movin, and Like I'm Gonna Lose You.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Meghan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Meghan. 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.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Meghan was first seen in the United States in 1952.
Meghan has ranked as high as #130 nationally, which occurred in 1985, and has been most popular in New York, California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Meghan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Meghan 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 Meghan 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 Meghan.
| Year | Total Births | Boy | Girl |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 102 | 0 | 102 |
| 2024 | 152 | 0 | 152 |
| 2023 | 207 | 0 | 207 |
| 2022 | 219 | 0 | 219 |
| 2021 | 262 | 0 | 262 |
| 2020 | 304 | 0 | 304 |
| 2019 | 385 | 0 | 385 |
| 2018 | 412 | 0 | 412 |
| 2017 | 166 | 0 | 166 |
| 2016 | 202 | 0 | 202 |
| 2015 | 242 | 0 | 242 |
| 2014 | 214 | 0 | 214 |
| 2013 | 230 | 0 | 230 |
| 2012 | 301 | 0 | 301 |
| 2011 | 376 | 0 | 376 |
| 2010 | 517 | 0 | 517 |
| 2009 | 621 | 0 | 621 |
| 2008 | 694 | 0 | 694 |
| 2007 | 878 | 0 | 878 |
| 2006 | 1,021 | 0 | 1,021 |
| 2005 | 1,219 | 0 | 1,219 |
| 2004 | 1,565 | 8 | 1,557 |
| 2003 | 1,695 | 0 | 1,695 |
| 2002 | 1,862 | 0 | 1,862 |
| 2001 | 2,030 | 6 | 2,024 |
| 2000 | 2,514 | 0 | 2,514 |
| 1999 | 2,578 | 0 | 2,578 |
| 1998 | 2,696 | 0 | 2,696 |
| 1997 | 2,868 | 0 | 2,868 |
| 1996 | 2,773 | 0 | 2,773 |
| 1995 | 2,971 | 8 | 2,963 |
| 1994 | 3,234 | 7 | 3,227 |
| 1993 | 3,401 | 0 | 3,401 |
| 1992 | 3,595 | 0 | 3,595 |
| 1991 | 3,704 | 0 | 3,704 |
| 1990 | 3,708 | 13 | 3,695 |
| 1989 | 3,874 | 18 | 3,856 |
| 1988 | 3,619 | 10 | 3,609 |
| 1987 | 3,791 | 21 | 3,770 |
| 1986 | 3,885 | 16 | 3,869 |
| 1985 | 4,682 | 13 | 4,669 |
| 1984 | 4,527 | 22 | 4,505 |
| 1983 | 3,903 | 15 | 3,888 |
| 1982 | 2,743 | 9 | 2,734 |
| 1981 | 2,624 | 10 | 2,614 |
| 1980 | 2,705 | 13 | 2,692 |
| 1979 | 2,580 | 9 | 2,571 |
| 1978 | 1,690 | 11 | 1,679 |
| 1977 | 1,148 | 6 | 1,142 |
| 1976 | 865 | 0 | 865 |
| 1975 | 827 | 6 | 821 |
| 1974 | 615 | 6 | 609 |
| 1973 | 503 | 0 | 503 |
| 1972 | 441 | 0 | 441 |
| 1971 | 346 | 0 | 346 |
| 1970 | 381 | 0 | 381 |
| 1969 | 233 | 0 | 233 |
| 1968 | 143 | 0 | 143 |
| 1967 | 119 | 0 | 119 |
| 1966 | 106 | 0 | 106 |
| 1965 | 85 | 0 | 85 |
| 1964 | 79 | 0 | 79 |
| 1963 | 74 | 0 | 74 |
| 1962 | 47 | 0 | 47 |
| 1961 | 39 | 0 | 39 |
| 1960 | 33 | 0 | 33 |
| 1959 | 51 | 0 | 51 |
| 1958 | 14 | 0 | 14 |
| 1957 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| 1956 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1955 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| 1954 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 1952 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
Top States for Meghan (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 | 21 | |
| FL | 20 | |
| CA | 16 | |
| NY | 13 | |
| VA | 9 | |
| NJ | 7 | |
| MD | 6 | |
| NC | 6 |