| Megan | Reese | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pearl | Ardour, enthusiasm |
| Origin | Welsh | Welsh |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MEG-an | REESS |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| First appeared | 1922 | 1924 |
| Peak year | 1990 (20,259) | 2012 (2,459) |
| In 2025 | 301 | 1,631 |
| Trend | Declining | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Megan | Reese |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 2,429 | 10,386 |
| 2010s | 11,493 | 20,182 |
| 2000s | 66,833 | 13,824 |
| 1990s | 160,375 | 372 |
| 1980s | 153,500 | 0 |
| 1970s | 37,355 | 0 |
| 1960s | 5,916 | 0 |
| 1950s | 1,887 | 5 |
| 1940s | 191 | 0 |
| 1930s | 47 | 0 |
| 1920s | 39 | 6 |
Megan is a Welsh pet form of Margaret, and so ultimately traces to the Greek margaritēs, “pearl.” Long a favourite in Wales, it spread widely across the English-speaking world.
From the Welsh Rhys, “ardour” or “enthusiasm.”
Reese is more popular than Megan today: about 1,631 US babies were given the name Reese in 2025, compared with 301 named Megan.
Megan means Pearl (Welsh origin), while Reese means Ardour, enthusiasm (Welsh origin).
In US records, Megan first appears in 1922 and Reese in 1924, so Megan has the longer recorded history.