Declining since 1985, #1,902 for girls today.
Popularity of Meghan since 1952
Babies named Meghan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1950s | 102 |
| 1960s | 958 |
| 1970s | 9,358 |
| 1980s | 36,206 |
| 1990s | 31,500 |
| 2000s | 14,085 |
| 2010s | 3,045 |
| 2020s | 1,246 |
Meaning & origin
Meghan is a Welsh variant of Megan, itself a diminutive of Margaret, a name of Greek origin meaning 'pearl'. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1952, and it saw a sharp rise in popularity beginning in the 1970s, reaching its peak in 1985 at rank 183. Since then, its usage has steadily declined; in 2025, Meghan ranks 1,902, with approximately 1 in every 15,758 girls receiving the name. The name was most popular in the 1980s, and its top states included Florida, New Jersey, and Illinois. While often associated with British royalty through Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, the name has deep Welsh roots and has long been used independently in English-speaking countries.
Meghan is a Welsh variant of Megan, itself a diminutive of Margaret. Margaret ultimately derives from the Greek margarites, meaning 'pearl'. The name became popular in Wales and later in English-speaking countries, especially from the 20th century onward.
Where Meghan is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Meghan” around the world
Where Meghan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Ireland
3
babies in 2025
Quebec
5
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Meg, Megan, Maggie, Midge
Sibling names for Meghan
Names that share Meghan's style, for a brother or sister.
Names like Meghan
Names whose popularity has moved with Meghan's over the last 50 years.
