Meg Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Meg originates from the Greek name 'Megara', meaning 'great' or 'mighty'. It evolved from Margaret, which translates to 'pearl'. Throughout history, Meg has been used as a diminutive, becoming popular in the 19th century. The name signifies positive traits such as warmth and friendliness. It does not have biblical relevance.
The name Meg is most popular in Utah, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Meg has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'Meg' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 5688th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1066th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1414th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2157th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 2269th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 8813th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Meg' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Meg"
Pronunciation
/mɛg/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
Meg is derived from the Greek name 'Megara', which means 'great' or 'mighty'. It is often considered a diminutive form of Margaret, which has the meaning 'pearl'.
Meaning
great, mighty, pearl
Language Evolution
Margaret (Old French: Marguerite), Meg (English)
Historical Usage
The name Meg gained popularity in the English-speaking world during the 19th century as a diminutive form of Margaret and became widely used in literature and common culture.
Variants & Derivatives
Megan, Meggie, Margaret
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Meg is seen as a friendly and approachable name, often associated with warmth and simplicity. It retains a classic charm while also feeling modern.
Famous People
Meg Ryan (actress), Meg Whitman (business executive), Meg Cabot (author)
Explore More Meg Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Meg"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Meg"
"Meg" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 5688th of 9204 | 37 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1066th of 12526 | 1,774 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1414th of 19264 | 1,196 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2157th of 27321 | 902 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 2269th of 35406 | 1,268 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 8813th of 30306 | 144 |
Regional Popularity of "Meg" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Meg" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
39.34% 876th/2227 |
28.40% 690th/2430 |
61.23% 1747th/2853 |
38.09% 1057th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
41.78% 1227th/2937 |
25.81% 899th/3483 |
95.37% 3355th/3518 |
57.79% 2337th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
49.93% 1840th/3685 |
49.18% 2201st/4475 |
69.48% 3609th/5194 |
43.50% 2748th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
39.66% 1817th/4582 |
59.39% 3067th/5164 |
47.57% 3479th/7313 |
29.26% 2184th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - |
78.59% 4932nd/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Meg"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Meg" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.