Girl name · Welsh
Megan
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: a pearlMegan is a girl's name that comes from Welsh and means "a pearl". It is used in English and Welsh.
- Meaning
- A pearl
- Origin
- Welsh
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #889 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Megan
As a girl's name, Megan comes from Welsh and means "a pearl". It is used in English and Welsh.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Megan on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Megan on 1 list.
“A pearl; Welsh pet form of Margaret”
From Ocean names, pearl and seashell names
How popular is Megan?
- US rank in 2025
- #889
- 301 babies, 187 per million girls
- Best rank
- #10 in 1985
- Most babies: 20,259 in 1990
- Babies since 1922
- At least 440,065
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 0 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 0 per million |
| 1900s | 0 per million |
| 1910s | 0 per million |
| 1920s | 3 per million |
| 1930s | 4 per million |
| 1940s | 13 per million |
| 1950s | 98 per million |
| 1960s | 324 per million |
| 1970s | 2,417 per million |
| 1980s | 8,937 per million |
| 1990s | 8,907 per million |
| 2000s | 3,617 per million |
| 2010s | 657 per million |
| 2020s | 250 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #432 | #496 | #550 | #609 | #640 | #609 | #731 | #694 | #764 | #889 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Megan
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- MereridA pearl (Welsh, girl)
Names spelled like Megan
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- MilanGracious, dear; a short form of Slavic Mil- names (Slavic, unisex)
- MeghaCloud (Sanskrit, girl)
- MercanCoral (Turkish, girl)
- MojganEyelashes (Persian, girl)
- MoranViburnum shrub (Hebrew, unisex)
- MulanMagnolia (Chinese, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- RitaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- GretaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MaggiePearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaritaA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargotA pearl (Greek, girl)
- SadafSeashell, mother-of-pearl (Arabic, girl)
- GretchenPearl (Greek, girl)
- MaisieA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargaretA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MargoPearl (Greek, girl)
- MargueriteA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MarjorieA pearl (Greek, girl)
- MarjoryPearl (Greek, girl)
- PeggyA pearl (Greek, girl)
- PerlaPearl (Italian, girl)
Middle names for Megan
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Welsh
- SabrinaFrom Sabrina, the Latin name of the River Severn (Welsh, girl)
- GwenWhite, fair, blessed (Welsh, girl)
- GwendolynBlessed ring (Welsh, girl)
- LynnLake (Welsh, unisex)
- ReeseArdor, enthusiasm (Welsh, unisex)
- RhiannonGreat queen (Welsh, girl)
- TeganFair, beautiful (Welsh, girl)
- WynnFair, white, blessed (Welsh, unisex)
- AngharadMuch loved (Welsh, girl)
- AnwenVery fair, very blessed (Welsh, girl)
- ArianwenSilver white (Welsh, girl)
- BlodwenWhite flowers (Welsh, girl)
- BranwenWhite raven (Welsh, girl)
- BriallenPrimrose (Welsh, girl)
- BrynA hill (Welsh, unisex)
- CarwenBlessed love (Welsh, girl)
- CarysLove, beloved (Welsh, girl)
- CelynHolly (Welsh, unisex)
Megan: common questions
What does the name Megan mean?
Megan comes from Welsh and means "a pearl".
Is Megan a boy or girl name?
Megan is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Megan come from?
Megan comes from Welsh and means "a pearl". Today it is used in English and Welsh.
How popular is the name Megan?
Megan ranked #889 in the US in 2025, with 301 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Megan?
Forms of Megan with the same meaning and origin include Mererid (Welsh).
What middle names go with Megan?
Middle names that flow well with Megan include Delphine, Evangeline, Heather, Louise and Lydia. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.