Total births
14,036
Girls' name · since 1955
Meaghan
Since 1955, U.S. Social Security records show 14,036 babies named Meaghan, peaking in 1986. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 14,036
- total births
- 1955–2020
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
14,036 girls have been named Meaghan since 1955, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Meaghan recorded 14,036 times among girls since 1955, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1955 to 2020.
- 14,036 total births
- 1955–2020 years on record
- 1990s peak decade
- 39% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
14,036 girls have been named Meaghan since 1955, peaking in the 1990s, last recorded in 2020.
- 14,036
- total births
- 1955–2020
- years on record
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 39%
- born in that decade
1990s
Peak decade
39% of everyone ever named Meaghan was born in this single decade.
1986
Single peak year
744 babies were named Meaghan in 1986 - its busiest year on record.
Meaghan's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Meaghan splits its recorded history at 1990: 53% of all births land in the more recent half, 47% in the earlier half, an evenly balanced pattern over time. The single quietest year was 1955 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1986 peak of 744 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Meaghan at a glance
Last recorded 2020Peak year
1986
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1955
Meaghan popularity over time - girls
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1955–2020
- Peak year (1986)
- 744
- Annual births at peak, across 66 years of records
Meaghan popularity over time - boys
7 total births recorded since 1989 (Meaghan as boys' name)
Meaghan by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Meaghan's strongest decade.
5,425 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 39% of all-time use.
Meaghan births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1950s 14
1950s
14 births
- 1960s 143
1960s
143 births
- 1970s 1,103
1970s
1,103 births
- 1980s
1980s
5,342 births
- 1990s
1990s
5,425 births
- 2000s 1,756
2000s
1,756 births
- 2010s 240
2010s
240 births
- 2020s 13
2020s
13 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 5,425 births (39% of all-time use).
How Meaghan compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Meaghan's total volume
Meaghan vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Meaghan by state
Where Meaghan concentrates geographically, total births since 1955
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Massachusetts | | 1,984 | 14.1% |
| #2 | New York | | 1,966 | 14.0% |
| #3 | California | | 814 | 5.8% |
| #4 | Texas | | 643 | 4.6% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 598 | 4.3% |
| #6 | New Jersey | | 580 | 4.1% |
| #7 | Florida | | 476 | 3.4% |
| #8 | Michigan | | 468 | 3.3% |
Massachusetts share of Meaghan's total US births 14.1%
Even split
1,984 of 14,036 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 41 reporting states.
Meaghan appears in 41 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Meaghan? ▼
Meaghan has been given to 14,036 babies in the U.S. since 1955, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 2020. 744 babies were born in 1986, its single highest year.
When was Meaghan most popular? ▼
Meaghan was most popular in the 1990s decade with 5,425 total births. The single peak year was 1986.
Where is Meaghan most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Meaghan are Massachusetts (1,984 births), New York (1,966 births), California (814 births).
How long has the name Meaghan been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Meaghan since 1955 -- 66 years through the most recent 2020 data.
What names are similar to Meaghan? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Meagan, Meadow, Mea, Meah, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Meaghan's data
- Meaghan's decade-level peak was the 1990s (5,425 total births); usage has since declined to 13 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Massachusetts records the most Meaghans (1,984 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Massachusetts names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Meaghan
Nearby Names Like Meaghan
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Meaghan
Meagan Girl
#9066 41,547 births
Meadow Girl
#325 12,343 births
Mea Girl
#5646 1,690 births
Meah Girl
#7717 1,628 births
Meara Girl
#4235 1,436 births
Compare Meaghan side by side: Meaghan vs Meagan Meaghan vs Meadow Meaghan vs Mea
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1955–2020 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Meaghan: Baby Name Since 1955 - 14,036 Births, Peak 1986." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/meaghan. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Meaghan draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.