Megan first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Megan has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Megan

Pearl; a feminine name of Welsh origin meaning "pearl" or "child of light".

Popularity of Megan by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Megan is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Megan being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 414 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Megan.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 414
2022 0 398
2021 0 489
2020 0 453
2019 0 497
2018 0 565
2017 0 631
2016 0 750
2015 0 853
2014 6 1,064
2013 0 1,246
2012 0 1,560
2011 0 1,914
2010 0 2,405
2009 5 3,057
2008 0 3,415
2007 9 4,124
2006 8 4,945
2005 6 5,856
2004 35 6,687
2003 10 7,800
2002 16 9,210
2001 17 10,300
2000 14 11,436
1999 11 12,227
1998 21 13,256
1997 18 14,243
1996 20 14,769
1995 28 15,530
1994 31 16,581
1993 30 16,385
1992 33 17,842
1991 31 19,276
1990 44 20,258
1989 82 19,781
1988 61 18,571
1987 61 17,824
1986 61 18,590
1985 80 20,015
1984 50 16,979
1983 50 14,125
1982 50 9,519
1981 40 8,966
1980 35 9,134
1979 27 8,294
1978 24 5,897
1977 20 5,322
1976 20 4,465
1975 11 4,193
1974 12 2,817

The history of the first name Megan

The name Megan is a Welsh feminine given name derived from the Welsh word "meg," meaning "pearl" or "precious stone." It is believed to have originated in the Middle Ages, possibly as a diminutive form of the name Margaret.

Megan has its roots in the Celtic languages and was initially popular in Wales and other parts of Britain. The name's earliest recorded use dates back to the 12th century, when it was found in Welsh genealogical records.

One of the earliest known historical figures with the name Megan was Megan ferch Dafydd, a Welsh noblewoman who lived in the 14th century. She was the daughter of Dafydd ap Gruffydd, a prominent Welsh leader during the Wars of Independence against the English.

Another notable Megan from history was Megan Gwynn, a 16th-century Welsh folk hero and outlaw. According to legend, she robbed from the wealthy and gave to the poor, earning her the nickname "Megan the Fair."

In the 17th century, Megan Lloyd (1627-1690) was a Welsh Baptist minister and one of the founders of the Baptist movement in Wales. She played a significant role in establishing Baptist churches and promoting religious freedom in the region.

During the 18th century, Megan Vaughan (1715-1768) was a Welsh botanist and naturalist who made significant contributions to the study of plants and their medicinal properties. She was known for her extensive knowledge of local flora and her efforts to preserve traditional Welsh plant remedies.

In more recent times, Megan Shaughnessy (1938-2006) was an American actress and director who appeared in numerous television shows and films throughout her career. She was best known for her role as Major Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan in the classic film "MAS*H."

These are just a few examples of the rich history and notable figures associated with the name Megan. Throughout the centuries, this name has maintained a strong connection to its Welsh origins while gaining popularity around the world.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Megan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Megan, please contact us.

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"Megan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 8, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/megan-meaning-and-history/.

"Megan first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/megan-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 November, 2024

Megan first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/megan-meaning-and-history/.

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