Given name & surname
Megan
Megan is used as a given name and a surname. Megan is connected with Meg and Margaret.
Original WelshMargaret
Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Welsh.
How it developed
In Welsh use, Megan is used as an affectionate form of Meg. Megan is used as a form of Margaret.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1922. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Welsh use, Megan is an affectionate form of Meg. The history of Meg gives this family its wider story. Meg March is one of the four sisters in Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Meg developed from the older short form Mag and was especially associated with Scottish use before spreading more widely.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Megan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 441,169
- 1,104 boys · 440,065 girls
- Most popular year
- 1990
- 20,303 babies
- 2025
- 301
- #889 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −32%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 301 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 889 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 31.8% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 20,259 in 1990. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (46). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 409,941 as a first name in 2020; 462 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Megan’s family of names
In English usage, Megan is a diminutive of Margaret. In Welsh usage, Megan has a conventional equivalent in the Spanish form Margarita. In Welsh usage, Megan is an affectionate form of Margaret.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Megan has relatives in 5 languages. Lines run from its Welsh roots to each of them.
Nicknames & forms 26
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
- Margaretfull form · Welsh, English
- Margedvariant · Welsh
- Meghanvariant
- Megannlikely variant
- Meaghanvariant · French
- Megdiminutive · English
- Megynvariant · English
- Maeganvariant · English
Show 18 moreShow fewer
- Mayganvariant · English
- Meighanvariant · English
- Meghannvariant · English
- Meggiediminutive · English
- Megganvariant
- Megenvariant
- Meggenvariant
- Meeganvariant
- Meeghanvariant
- Meaginvariant
- Meaganvariant
- Meginvariant
- Magenvariant
- Maganvariant
- Meggydiminutive · English
- Megsdiminutive · English
- Meganiravariant
- Megdnvariant
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Megan
- Megan FoxAmerican actress and model (born 1986)
- Megan RapinoeAmerican soccer player (born 1985)
- Megan Thee StallionAmerican rapper, singer and songwriterborn 1995
- Megan MullallyAmerican actressborn 1958
- Meg WhiteAmerican drummerborn 1974
- Megan BooneAmerican actressborn 1983
- Megan FollowsCanadian actress and directorborn 1968
- Megan YoungFilipino actressborn 1990
- Megan ParkCanadian actressborn 1986
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Megan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Morgan
“circling the bright sea; a sea dweller”
22% boys · 78% girls
Erin
“woman from Ireland” · “a man from Ireland”
6% boys · 94% girls
Molly
Molly is used as a given name and a surname. Molly is connected with Mary.
>99% girls
Leanna
“the shining light”
>99% girls
Regan
“born into royalty; the little ruler”
20% boys · 80% girls
Michaela
“who is like God?” · “brook”
>99% girls
Kara
“one who is pure” · “dearly loved”
>99% girls
Katelyn
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls