Meghan

A Welsh name gently fading from the charts.

Girl's name| Also boysWelshDeclining Also a pet name
#1446 276in 2024

Meaning & Origin

A female given name from Welsh, a pseudo-Irish spelling of the Welsh Megan.

Meghan is a girl's and boy's baby name of Welsh origin, an alternate spelling of Megan, itself a Welsh diminutive of Margaret, derived from the Greek margarites meaning 'pearl.'

The Meghan spelling gained significant cultural visibility when Meghan Markle married Prince Harry in 2018, becoming the Duchess of Sussex. The name shot up in popularity across the English-speaking world in the wake of that wedding — a royal effect that was swift and measurable. It balances Celtic heritage with a distinctly modern American presence.

Compare Meghan with another name

Popularity Over Time

Meghan was #217 twenty years ago and has since drifted to #1446, but its charm endures.

01k2k4k5k1960198020002024

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Meghan
DecadeBirthsTrend
2020s1,143
2010s3,043
2000s14,085
1990s31,500
1980s36,208
1970s9,359
1960s958
1950s102

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(72 years, 19522024)
Year-by-year popularity data for the name Meghan
YearBirthsRank
2024152#1446
2023206#1170
2022219#1124
2021262#989
2020304#880
2019385#735
2018412#708
2017165#1396
2016202#1221
2015242#1083
2014214#1159
2013230#1077
2012301#883
2011376#736
2010516#567
2009621#494
2008694#455
2007878#373
20061,021#322
20051,219#271

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Meghan as a Boy's Name

While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Meghan has also been given to 227 boys in the U.S. since 1974.

Unranked
Current rank
227
Total births
1984
Peak year
Compare Meghan as girl vs boy

Frequently Asked

Can Meghan be used for both boys and girls?
Yes, Meghan is used for both boys and girls. As a girl's name, it currently ranks #1446. As a boy's name, it is not currently in the top rankings.

Meghan has two lives

Meghan, the baby name
#1446girls
96,398 babies
Currently viewing
Meghan, the pet name
#6320pet name
10 pets
View pet page →

Last updated May 2026 · Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (19522024) · Methodology