"pearl"
Origin: Greek
Language: English
Margaret
Pronunciation: [ m-AHRG-er-iht ]
Does Margaret flow with your last name?
A pearl of a name with a thousand years of history
English
Scottish
Irish
French
German
Spanish
Italian
Classic
Royal
Vintage
Literary
Sophisticated
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
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Meaning & Origin
"precious gem, pearl of great price"
Origin: Persian
Language: French
"pearl"
Origin: Greek via Latin
Language: English
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The Story of Margaret
Margaret comes from the Latin Margarita, which derives from the Greek 'margarites', meaning pearl. The name spread through Christendom via Saint Margaret of Antioch, an early Christian martyr venerated in both Eastern and Western traditions. It became a royal favorite — three Queens of Scotland were named Margaret — and has remained a cornerstone of English naming for over a thousand years.
Margaret dominated US baby name charts for much of the 20th century, in the top 10 from the 1900s through the 1950s. After decades of decline when it seemed strictly 'old lady', it has been staging a fashionable comeback in the 2010s and 2020s as parents rediscover serious vintage names with excellent nickname potential.
Margaret Thatcher became the UK's first female Prime Minister in 1979, reshaping the name's cultural meaning for a generation. Princess Margaret, sister of Queen Elizabeth II, gave the name royal glamour. The name's extraordinary nickname variety (Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Rita, Greta) makes it one of the most flexible names in English.
Historical Record
Margaret first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 380,012 babies have been named Margaret in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Margaret is past its peak , currently ranked #119 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Margaret has more well-known nicknames than almost any other English name: Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Marge, Rita, Greta, Daisy (via French Marguerite)
- Margherita pizza was reportedly named after Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889
- Three Queens of Scotland were named Margaret between the 10th and 15th centuries
Margaret in Other Languages
Irish
Mairéad
Arabic
مارغريت
French
Marguerite
German
Margarete/Greta
Italian
Margherita
Russian
Маргарита
Spanish
Margarita
Scottish
Mairead
Popularity Over Time
#119
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Peaked 1950
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Margaret
M
Margaret Atwood
Writer
1939
Canadian author of The Handmaid's Tale and the MaddAddam trilogy, one of the world's most important living novelists
P
Princess Margaret
Royalty
1930
Younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, known for her glamour and complex personal life
M
Margaret Thatcher
Politician
1925
First female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990), known as the Iron Lady
M
Margaret Mead
Scientist
1901
Influential American cultural anthropologist known for her studies of Pacific Island societies
M
Meg March Fictional
Other
Eldest of the March sisters in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868)
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See all →Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 3
- Popularity Rank
- #119
- Total SSA Count
- 2,303
- Cultural Origins
- English Scottish Irish French German Spanish Italian
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- High
Alternative Spellings
Popular in These States
Top states by rank · 2024
Common Nicknames
Maggie
Meg
Peggy
Marge
Greta
Rita
Margo
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
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Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
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Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Margaret
7 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
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Also a Boy Name
Margaret is also used as a boy name, ranked #19732.
View Margaret as a boy name →Similar Names
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Same Origin Names (English)
See all English names →Names with Similar Meaning
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Frequently Asked Questions About Margaret
What does the name Margaret mean?
"pearl" (from Greek). "precious gem, pearl of great price" (from Persian). "pearl" (from Greek via Latin). Margaret comes from the Latin Margarita, which derives from the Greek 'margarites', meaning pearl. The name spread through Christendom via Saint Margaret of Antioch, an early Christian martyr venerated in both Eastern and Western traditions. It became a royal favorite — three Queens of Scotland were named Margaret — and has remained a cornerstone of English naming for over a thousand years.
What is the origin of the name Margaret?
Margaret has Greek, Persian, Greek via Latin, English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, Spanish, and Italian origins. In Greek, it means "pearl". In Persian, it means "precious gem, pearl of great price". In Greek via Latin, it means "pearl".
Is Margaret a boy or girl name?
Margaret is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it is ranked #119. As a boy name, it is ranked #19732. Margaret is more commonly used as a girl name.
How do you pronounce Margaret?
Margaret is pronounced m-AHRG-er-iht.
How popular is the name Margaret?
Margaret is currently ranked #119 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Margaret?
Common nicknames for Margaret include Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Marge, Greta, Rita, and Margo.
What are good middle names for Margaret?
Popular middle name pairings include Margaret Rose, Margaret Ann, Margaret Jane, Margaret Claire, Margaret Louise, Margaret Elise, and Margaret Honor.
What are good sibling names for Margaret?
Names that pair well with Margaret as siblings include Eleanor, Catherine, Edward, William, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Thomas.
How many syllables does Margaret have?
Margaret has 3 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Margaret a common or rare name?
Margaret is a popular name, ranked #119 for girls. It is well-known without being overused.
What girl names are similar to Margaret?
About the Name Margaret
Margaret is a girl name with English, Scottish, Irish, French, German, Spanish, and Italian origins . The name means "pearl" in Greek .
Is Margaret a boy or girl name? Margaret is used as both a girl and boy name. As a girl name, it ranks #119 in popularity. As a boy name, it ranks #19,732. Margaret is more commonly used as a girl name.
Margaret is currently ranked #119 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Margaret has 3 syllables and is pronounced m-AHRG-er-iht, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Margaret include Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Marge, Greta, Rita, and Margo. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Margaret include Margot, Margo, Margaux, Margarita, Marguerite . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
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Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis