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Margaret Name Meaning, Origins & History

Margaret

Pronunciation: MAHR-grit / MAHR-guh-rit

Meaning Pearl Origin Ancient Greek Gender Girl
GIRLS RANK
#112
TREND
7
Peak Years
1921, 1920, 1918
Lowest Years
1880, 1881, 2011
Energy Archetype
Hardworking & Dutiful

Rank shows the name’s position among U.S. baby names for each gender in 2025. Trend shows how many places it rose or fell since 2024. Rank 1 is the most popular. Based on U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) data. Peak and lowest years are based on the number of girls named Margaret in the available records.

Fun Facts About the Name Margaret

  • A favorite of earlier generations: Margaret appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 2 separate runs, totaling 104 years. Its last run lasted 8 consecutive years, from 1982 through 1989.
  • More than 1 million babies named Margaret: U.S. records list 1,268,488 babies given the name Margaret from 1880 through 2025. Even 3,745 boys received the name Margaret - about 1 boy for every 338 girls.

What Does the Name Margaret Mean?

Margaret comes from Latin Margarita, which was borrowed from Greek margaritēs (μαργαρίτης), the ordinary Greek word for a pearl. The established meaning of the name is therefore "pearl." The Greek word is itself a loanword, not a native Greek formation, and its ultimate source is uncertain; Iranian and Semitic origins have both been proposed, but neither is firmly established. Because the meaning came with the borrowed word for pearl, "pearl" is a literal translation rather than a later symbolic reading, though Christian writers have long connected the name with the pearl of great price in the Gospel of Matthew as a devotional association.

Margaret Name History & Origins

The name spread through Christian Latin usage and was carried into the vernacular languages of Europe. In medieval Latin it appears as Margarita; Old French has Marguerite, and Middle English Margaret. Related forms in other languages include Spanish Margarita, Italian Margherita, German Margarete or Margareta, Dutch Margriet, and Scottish Gaelic Maighread.

Its early currency owed much to the veneration of saints named Margaret. Saint Margaret of Antioch is a legendary martyr of the fourth century whose cult was widespread in the Middle Ages; the details of her life come from tradition rather than documented records. A historical figure, Margaret of Scotland (about 1045 - 1093), an English princess who married King Malcolm III, was canonized in 1250 and was widely venerated in Scotland, where the name became common. In England the name appears in records from the twelfth century onward and was one of the most frequently given women's names in the later Middle Ages.

Royal and noble use kept the name prominent across Europe: Margaret of Anjou, queen of Henry VI of England; Margaret Tudor, sister of Henry VIII and queen of Scotland; and Marguerite de Navarre in France. English nicknames grew up around it, including Meg and Maggie, and the rhyming form Peggy. The French marguerite also names the daisy, and the flower sense produced Daisy as another familiar form of the name.

How Popular is the Name Margaret?

Margaret ranked among the top 100 U.S. names from 1880 through 1975, then returned in 1982 and remained through 1989.

U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.

Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.

Famous People Named Margaret

Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret of Valois
Margaret of Valois
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher

Explore Name Lists Featuring Margaret

Carl appears in several baby name collections based on U.S. popularity records, naming trends, and name characteristics. Explore these lists to discover other names with similar histories, styles, or features.

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How the Name Margaret Shapes Your Personality and Life?

You have psychic power. You can carry on for others with joy. You have a receptive nature and may bear burdens for others. You are pragmatic, thorough, strong-willed, practical and stubborn at times. You are hard working, often martyr to duty. You like home and security above all. You are bold, independent, inquisitive and interested in research. You know what you want and why you want it.

You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.

✦ Margaret's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Margaret's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.
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