Meaning: Its source is margaron, a Greek name meaning "Pearl."

Popularity: The name Meaghan ranked 838th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 1459th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

Narrative: This name came into use among English speakers by way of Latin (as Margarita) and Old French (as Marguerite). It has been closely identified with Scotland, to the point that one commentator has pronounced it ''the national Scottish female name.''

However, in the late 20th century it has been most prominently borne by Englishwoman Margaret Thatcher, the United Kingdom's first female Prime Minister.