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Home › Baby Names Directory › Meaghan

Meaghan

♀ Girl

Pronounced MEG-uhn /ˈmɛɡ.ən/High

Meaning: Meaghan is an ornate, faux-Irish spelling of Megan, the Welsh pet form of Margaret, from Greek margarites, 'pearl.' The added -a- and -h- give the plain Welsh nickname a dressed-up, Celtic-looking finish.Medium

In 30 seconds: Meaghan is Megan spelled the long way (said 'MEG-uhn'). Behind it is Margaret, Greek for 'pearl.'
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Origin MediumWelsh, Greek
MeaningMeaghan is an ornate, faux-Irish spelling of Megan, the Welsh pet form of Margaret, from Greek margarites, 'pearl.' The added -a- and -h- give the plain Welsh nickname a dressed-up, Celtic-looking finish.
U.S. rank (2020)#8257 ↗ Rising
2020 U.S. births13 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1986
Total births (all-time)≈ 14,036

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 198619552020

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Meaghan belongs to the 1980s wave that revived Megan from a modest Welsh nickname into a top-tier American name. Megan grew out of Margaret, from Greek margarites, 'pearl.' The heavily embellished Meaghan spelling peaked in the mid-eighties and receded as the plainer Megan won out.

A Meaghan from her peak is now approaching forty, a Gen-X cohort name. The elaborate spelling reads as very much of the eighties; namers who love the sound now default to Megan or Meghan, leaving Meaghan a period ornament.

Did you know? Meaghan spiked in the mid-eighties as the whole Megan/Meghan/Meaghan cluster surged, with parents choosing the most elaborate spelling to make a suddenly common name look distinctive.
Overall data confidence 78%
References — Meaghan — Elaborate spelling of Megan/Margaret (Gk 'pearl'); mid-1980s peak

Variations

MeganMeghanMeagan

Nicknames

MegMeggie

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Meaghan…

Megan— the plain standard spelling Meaghan elaborates
Meghan— a like alternate spelling of the same name
Erin— a same-era Celtic-flavored girls' name
Caitlin— a like Irish-styled name of the period

Explore names like Meaghan

By themerespellingceltic1980s

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Meaghan mean?

Meaghan is an elaborate spelling of Megan, a Welsh pet form of Margaret, from Greek for 'pearl.'

How do you pronounce Meaghan?

It's said MEG-uhn /ˈmɛɡ.ən/ — two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Meaghan a boy or girl name?

Meaghan is used as a girl's name, an ornate spelling of Megan.

How popular is Meaghan?

Meaghan was an eighties favorite that peaked mid-decade and has been uncommon since.

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