NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Meegan

An anglicized form of the Irish name 'Muirgean', meaning "born of the sea".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Meegan is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Meegan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3262, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 4 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 1997 to 2001. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Meegan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2002 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Meegan ranked #3262 for girls in England and Wales in 2001, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 4 girls were registered as Meegan.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Meegan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3262

2001

Births in 2001

4

Latest year

Peak year

1997

4 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Meegan mean?

The given name Meegan is believed to have originated from the Irish Gaelic language, where it is spelled "Muirgein" or "Muireann." The name is derived from the Old Irish words "muir" meaning "sea" and "gein" meaning "born" or "descendant." It can be interpreted to mean "born of the sea" or "child of the sea."

This name has its roots in ancient Celtic mythology, where the sea was revered as a powerful and sacred force. In Irish folklore, the sea was often personified as a goddess or a feminine entity, and names associated with the sea were considered auspicious and protective.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Meegan can be traced back to the 8th century, when it appeared in the Annals of Ulster, an ancient chronicle of medieval Irish history. However, it is likely that the name predates written records and was used orally in Celtic cultures for centuries before that.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Meegan. One of the earliest recorded was Muirgein mac Tómaltaig (born c. 760), an Irish poet and scholar who served as the Chief Ollamh (professor) of Ireland during the reign of Niall Frasach, the High King of Ireland in the late 8th century.

Another significant figure was Muireann Ní Bhriain (c. 1150 - c. 1220), an Irish noblewoman and chieftain who ruled over the territory of Uí Bhriain in what is now County Limerick. She was renowned for her leadership skills and for defending her lands against invading Norman forces.

In the 16th century, Meegan O'Daly (c. 1535 - c. 1600) was a notable Irish poet and historian from County Westmeath. He composed numerous works in the Irish language, including historical poems and genealogies of prominent Irish families.

In more recent times, Meegan Jones (1957 - ) is a Welsh actress and singer best known for her roles in various British television series and films. She has also released several albums and has been a prominent figure in the Welsh music scene.

Finally, Meegan Duhamel (1986 - ) is a Canadian former pair skater who, along with her partner Eric Radford, won multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, including gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Meegan over time

The chart below shows babies named Meegan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Meegan, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2001, compared with 4 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Meegan
01234199719992001

Decades

Meegan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Meegan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2000s #3255 8 2
1990s #3174 4 1

Related

Names similar to Meegan

FAQ

Meegan: questions and answers

How popular is the name Meegan in the UK right now?

In 2001, Meegan was ranked #3262 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Meegan most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 4 babies registered as Meegan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Meegan?

An anglicized form of the Irish name 'Muirgean', meaning "born of the sea".

How many people are called Meegan in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Meegan across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.