Megan is a name of Welsh origin, meaning "gentle maiden." It is believed to have been derived from the ancient Welsh word "meg" which meant "maiden," and was often used in combination with other names to create compound names such as Megan Rhys or Megan ferch Owain.
The name Megan gained popularity during the 20th century, particularly in the United States. According to data from the Social Security Administration, it was among the top 1,000 most popular girl's names in every year between 1978 and 2018, reaching its peak popularity in 1997 when it ranked as the 34th most popular name for newborn girls.
While Megan is typically considered a female name, it can also be used as a boy's name. The name has been borne by several notable individuals throughout history, including Meg Ryan, an American actress known for her roles in films such as "When Harry Met Sally" and "Sleepless in Seattle," and Megan Fox, an American actress and model who rose to fame after being cast in the Transformers film series.
Overall, the name Megan is of Welsh origin and has a simple yet meaningful meaning. It gained significant popularity during the latter half of the 20th century and continues to be used today for both girls and boys. Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried this name, further contributing to its recognition and appeal.
The name Megan has seen significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century in the United States. Initially, it was quite rare, with only 7 births recorded in 1922 and similar low numbers in subsequent years until the 1940s.
However, starting from 1943, there was a notable increase in Megan births, jumping to 21 that year. This trend continued through the 1950s, with numbers steadily rising each year, reaching triple digits by 1957 (258 births).
The 1960s marked a significant turning point for the name Megan. In 1964, there were 512 births, more than double the previous year's total. This was followed by an even larger jump in 1965 to 608 births, indicating that Megan was beginning to gain traction as a popular choice among parents.
The trend of increasing popularity continued into the 1970s and 1980s. In 1973, there were 2021 Megan births, and by 1980, this number had more than doubled to 9134 births. The name reached its peak popularity in 1985 with a total of 20014 births.
Despite fluctuations since then, Megan has remained one of the most popular names for girls in recent decades. As of 2022, there have been a total of 439386 births named Megan in the United States alone.