Megan
Girl name · Celtic · Greek · Welsh
Meaningpearl · Welsh form of Margaret
- US rank
- #887
- Syllables
- 2
- Peak
- #10 in 1994
301 babies were named Megan in the US in 2025. It has dropped 247 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million girls, 1922–2025
Most popular states (2025)
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Megan you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Megan
Megan Fox
American actress and model (born 1986)
Choose Megan and your child shares a first name with Megan Fox, an American actress and model. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Megan, like who?” Megan Fox's Wikipedia article is available in 112 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Megan Fox on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 5,339 baby girls born in the US in 2025 was named Megan, 301 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Megan would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryMegan first shows up in US birth records in 1922, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 103 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1994, when it ranked #10. Today it's #887, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowMegan was 34× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 159 baby girls; in 2025, about 1 in 5,339.
- TrendMegan has slipped 247 places over the last five years and now sits at #887. Good news if you want a familiar name that fewer kids will share.
- Where it's lovedMegan is most popular in Florida, where it ranks #404, followed by Utah (#490) and New Jersey (#618). It's in the top 1,000 in 14 states.
- MeaningMegan is a Welsh form of Margaret, which means “pearl”. Our records link it to Celtic, Greek and Welsh roots.
About the name Megan
Megan is a girl name of Celtic, Greek and Welsh origin meaning “pearl”. It has 5 letters and 2 syllables, starting with M and ending in “-gan”. US birth records list Megan for girls from 1922 to 2025, in 97 of those 104 years. Its best year was 1994, when it ranked #10 among girl names. In 2025 it ranked #887, with 301 babies.
Origin:Celtic namesGreek namesWelsh names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1920s | 4.0 | 247,678 girls |
| 1930s | 4.5 | 224,719 girls |
| 1940s | 13 | 78,864 girls |
| 1950s | 96 | 10,401 girls |
| 1960s | 334 | 2,995 girls |
| 1970s | 2,438 | 410 girls |
| 1980s | 8,891 | 112 girls |
| 1990s | 8,881 | 113 girls |
| 2000s | 3,644 | 274 girls |
| 2010s | 653 | 1,531 girls |
| 2020s | 250 | 4,008 girls |
More Celtic girl names
- Girl name: Evelyn · possibly desired
- Girl name: Isla · from Islay
- Unisex name: Riley · rye clearing
- Girl name: Maeve · she who intoxicates
- Unisex name: Kennedy · helmeted head
- Unisex name: Quinn · descendant of Conn
- Unisex name: Blair · plain, field
- Girl name: Olive · olive tree
Questions about the name Megan
What does the name Megan mean?
Megan means “pearl” in Welsh, as a form of Margaret.
What is the origin of the name Megan?
Megan has Celtic, Greek, Welsh roots in our records. Other Celtic names include Evelyn, Isla, Riley.
Is Megan a boy or girl name?
Megan is a girl name.
How popular is the name Megan?
Megan ranked #887 for US girls in 2025, given to 301 babies. Its best year was 1994 (#10).