Meaning & origin
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1952. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Meghan through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 96,727
- 227 boys · 96,500 girls
- Most popular year
- 1985
- 4,682 babies
- 2025
- 102
- #1,906 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −36%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 102 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 1,906 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 35.9% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 4,669 in 1985. In 2025, Florida had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (21). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 89,553 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Meghan’s family of names
Meghan has a related form in Megan. In English usage, Meghan has a related form in Meaghan. In English usage, Meghan has a related form in MEGHANN.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Meghan
- Meghan TrainorAmerican singer-songwriter (born 1993)
- Meghan OryCanadian actressborn 1982
- Meghan KlingenbergAmerican soccer playerborn 1988
- Meghan McCainAmerican columnist, author, and television personality (born 1984)
- Meghan HeffernCanadian actressborn 1983
- Meghan MusnickiAmerican rowerborn 1983
- Meghan AgostaIce hockey player for Canada's national women's teamborn 1987
- Meghan DugganAmerican ice hockey playerborn 1987
- Meghan BeesleyEnglish hurdlerborn 1989
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Meghan, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Meggan
Meggan is a feminine given name from Welsh.
>99% girls
Erin
“woman from Ireland” · “a man from Ireland”
6% boys · 94% girls
Siobhan
“God is gracious” · “a gift from God”
>99% girls
Meagan
Meagan is a feminine given name from Welsh.
>99% girls
Morgan
“circling the bright sea; a sea dweller”
22% boys · 78% girls
Meredith
“a great ruler; protector of the sea”
>99% girls
Cara
“beloved” · “one who is dearly loved”
>99% girls
Caitlin
“one who is pure; virginal”
>99% girls