Pearl
Megan is a girl's name of English origin — a Welsh diminutive of Margaret, which itself comes from the Greek Margarites, meaning 'pearl.' The name has been used in Wales for centuries, where it was a natural pet form of the far more formal Margaret. It traveled from Wales into mainstream English use in the 20th century, becoming particularly popular in England and the US in the 1980s and 90s. In Wales it remains a beloved traditional name with deep cultural roots. The spelling Meghan has become almost equally common, driven partly by Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
Megan Fox became one of the most famous bearers of the name when she starred in the Transformers films in 2007, making Megan the name of one of Hollywood's most visually prominent celebrities of the late 2000s. Meghan Markle, who married Prince Harry in 2018, gave the Meghan spelling a significant boost. In the UK, the name carried strong Welsh associations through the 20th century before entering mainstream British use. Megan Thee Stallion, the rapper born Megan Jovon Ruth Pete, represents the name's current cultural presence. Megan is also the name of Roald Dahl's granddaughter, after whom the children's sweet company was named.
Megan carries a warm, grounded quality — not elaborate or attention-seeking, but confident and direct. It is a name associated with people who are approachable and practical: Megan Fox's confident directness on screen, Meghan Markle's composed public presence, Megan Thee Stallion's unapologetic self-assurance. The name has a friendly, open quality without being vague. Meg as a nickname strips it back to something even more immediate and warm — one of the clearest short forms available.
Megan peaked at #10 in the US, #3 in the UK, and #5 in Canada — strong, consistent rankings across all three major English-speaking markets. It was particularly dominant in the UK in the 1990s. Today it sits outside the top 50 in most English-speaking countries — still recognized and liked, but no longer at the peak of its popularity. For parents who want a familiar name that is genuinely less common for newborns right now than it was a generation ago, Megan is an interesting option.
Similar names
Megan means 'pearl,' as a Welsh diminutive of Margaret, which comes from the Greek Margarites. The name traveled from Wales into mainstream English use in the 20th century, bringing the pearl meaning with it — though most modern Megans are probably not thinking about gemstones.
Megan peaked at #10 in the US and #3 in the UK. Today it sits outside the top 50 in most countries — less common for newborns than it was in the 1990s but still immediately recognized by everyone. It is at that point where it is transitioning from popular to classic.
Both spellings are in use. Megan is the more common original form. Meghan is an alternative spelling that gained visibility through Meghan Markle. Either is perfectly standard — choose the one that looks right to you, as both are pronounced the same way.
The main nickname is Meg, which is clean, warm, and works at every age. Meggie works for younger children. The full Megan is short enough that many people use it as-is without feeling the need for a nickname — three syllables, easy to say, no awkward stage.
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