Holding steady.
Popularity of Maghen since 1984
Babies named Maghen per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 59 |
| 1990s | 49 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Maghen is a modern respelling of Megan that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1984, a time when creative spellings of popular names were on the rise. Its peak year was 1986, after which usage remained stable but very low, never reaching a 1-in-N million threshold. The name has not been recorded among the top states, reflecting its rarity. As a variant of Megan, which derives from Margaret via Welsh, Maghen carries the meaning 'pearl'. This spelling choice fits a pattern of unique name styling that emerged in the late 20th century, particularly among English-speaking families.
Maghen is a respelling of Megan, which is a Welsh diminutive of Margaret. Margaret comes from the Greek margarites meaning 'pearl'. While Maghen is a modern English variant, its roots trace back to the Persian word for pearl via Greek. The spelling Maghen likely emerged in the late 20th century as part of a trend toward unique respellings.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Meg, Maggie, Mags
Sibling names for Maghen
Names that share Maghen's style, for a brother or sister.
