Meg
A diminutive of the female given names Margaret and Megan.
Every Meg since 1941 — 5,321 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Meg
Meg is not currently in use for newborns in the United States — fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.
Since 1941, 5,321 American babies have been named Meg. Its peak came in 1959, when 196 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1950s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Meg stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Meg year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — |
| 2024 | — | — |
| 2023 | — | — |
| 2022 | 6 | #14,720 |
| 2021 | 15 | #7,524 |
| 2020 | 11 | #9,339 |
| 2019 | 10 | #10,229 |
| 2018 | 18 | #6,701 |
| 2017 | 7 | #13,627 |
| 2016 | 19 | #6,592 |
| 2015 | 20 | #6,386 |
| 2014 | 14 | #8,354 |
| 2013 | 24 | #5,603 |
| 2012 | 27 | #5,200 |
| 2011 | 30 | #4,775 |
| 2010 | 52 | #3,189 |
| 2009 | 50 | #3,338 |
| 2008 | 53 | #3,200 |
| 2007 | 64 | #2,845 |
| 2006 | 65 | #2,748 |
| 2005 | 100 | #1,931 |
| 2004 | 88 | #2,083 |
| 2003 | 129 | #1,517 |
| 2002 | 109 | #1,691 |
| 2001 | 111 | #1,645 |
| 2000 | 109 | #1,627 |
| 1995 | 107 | #1,489 |
| 1990 | 79 | #1,821 |
| 1985 | 37 | #2,633 |
| 1980 | 52 | #2,035 |
| 1975 | 63 | #1,582 |
| 1970 | 87 | #1,268 |
| 1965 | 120 | #930 |
| 1960 | 179 | #764 |
| 1955 | 75 | #1,154 |
| 1950 | 26 | #1,894 |
| 1945 | 12 | #2,696 |
| 1940 | — | — |
| 1935 | — | — |
| 1930 | — | — |
| 1925 | — | — |
| 1920 | — | — |
| 1915 | — | — |
| 1910 | — | — |
| 1905 | — | — |
| 1900 | — | — |
| 1895 | — | — |
| 1890 | — | — |
| 1885 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — |
Famous people named Meg
- Meg Ryan Actor · b. 1961
- Meg Foster Actor · b. 1948
- Meg Tilly Actor · b. 1960
- Meg Cabot Writer · b. 1967
- Meg Whitman Businessperson · b. 1956
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Meg mean?
A diminutive of the female given names Margaret and Megan.
How popular is the name Meg in 2025?
Meg did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.
How many people are named Meg?
5,321 babies have been named Meg in the United States since 1941, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Meg most popular?
Meg peaked in 1959, when 196 newborns received the name.
Is Meg a boy or girl name?
Meg is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Meg rising or falling?
Meg is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Meg?
Well-known people named Meg include Meg Ryan (actor), Meg Foster (actor), Meg Tilly (actor).