Fun Facts About the Name Peggy
- An established favorite: Peggy held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 36 consecutive years, from 1927 through 1962.
- More than 293 thousand babies named Peggy: U.S. records list 293,561 babies given the name Peggy from 1880 through 2025. Even 798 boys received the name Peggy - about 1 boy for every 367 girls.
What Does the Name Peggy Mean?
Peggy is an English pet form of Margaret and carries that name's meaning, "pearl." Margaret entered English through Old French Marguerite, from Latin Margarita, from Greek margaritēs (μαργαρίτης), "pearl." Greek took the word from an older language of the Near East; Persian marvārid, also "pearl," is often compared, though the exact route is not settled.
Because Peggy is a diminutive rather than a name with its own root, it has no separate etymology. Its meaning is Margaret's meaning, and the -y ending is simply the familiar English diminutive suffix, not a meaning-bearing element.
Peggy Name History & Origins
Peggy grew out of a medieval English habit of making rhyming nicknames. Margaret was shortened to Meg, and Meg was altered to Peg by the same sound-swapping pattern that turned Molly into Polly, Robert into Bob, and Richard into Dick. The diminutive ending -y was then added to Peg, giving Peggy. Peg appears in English records by the 16th century, and the longer Peggy followed in the same family of pet forms.
By the 18th century, Peggy was being written into parish registers and family papers as a given name in its own right, in Britain and in the American colonies alike. Women known to history under the name include Peggy Shippen, the Philadelphia woman who married Benedict Arnold in 1779, and Peggy Schuyler, sister of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Through the 19th century the name stayed a familiar, informal given name in English-speaking countries, and many women baptized Margaret went by Peggy for life.
In the 20th century Peggy detached further from Margaret and was frequently bestowed directly at birth. Bearers include the singer Peggy Lee, the art collector Peggy Guggenheim, the actress Peggy Ashcroft, and the figure skater Peggy Fleming. The name also appears in song and fiction, such as Buddy Holly's 1957 hit "Peggy Sue" and the character Peggy Olson in the television series Mad Men; these are uses of the name rather than explanations of where it came from.
How Popular is the Name Peggy?
Peggy remained among the top 100 girl names in the U.S. from 1927 to 1962. Its highest annual birth count was in 1958, and people born that year turn 68 in 2026.
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.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #8,740 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 2024 | #8,281 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 2023 | #5,343 | 24 | 0.0015% |
| 2022 | #7,547 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 2021 | #6,615 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 2020 | #6,022 | 20 | 0.0012% |
| 2019 | #4,135 | 35 | 0.0021% |
| 2018 | #5,582 | 23 | 0.0014% |
| 2017 | #5,630 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 2016 | #6,613 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 2015 | #8,826 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2014 | #5,944 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 2013 | #7,300 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2012 | #5,522 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2011 | #5,501 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2010 | #7,147 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #5,341 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 2008 | #5,399 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2007 | #4,639 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2006 | #4,549 | 32 | 0.0017% |
| 2005 | #4,177 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2004 | #5,916 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2003 | #4,092 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2002 | #3,954 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #3,299 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 2000 | #2,663 | 56 | 0.0031% |
| 1999 | #2,725 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1998 | #2,522 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 1997 | #1,912 | 77 | 0.0044% |
| 1996 | #2,100 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1995 | #1,648 | 90 | 0.0051% |
| 1994 | #1,571 | 98 | 0.0055% |
| 1993 | #1,424 | 114 | 0.0063% |
| 1992 | #1,343 | 125 | 0.0068% |
| 1991 | #1,193 | 146 | 0.0078% |
| 1990 | #1,007 | 181 | 0.0095% |
| 1989 | #870 | 213 | 0.0116% |
| 1988 | #808 | 227 | 0.0127% |
| 1987 | #770 | 233 | 0.0134% |
| 1986 | #704 | 256 | 0.0149% |
| 1985 | #700 | 250 | 0.0145% |
| 1984 | #563 | 328 | 0.0195% |
| 1983 | #614 | 285 | 0.0171% |
| 1982 | #534 | 367 | 0.0217% |
| 1981 | #483 | 437 | 0.0262% |
| 1980 | #440 | 488 | 0.0294% |
| 1979 | #413 | 518 | 0.0323% |
| 1978 | #351 | 613 | 0.0400% |
| 1977 | #329 | 715 | 0.0466% |
| 1976 | #303 | 759 | 0.0518% |
| 1975 | #268 | 895 | 0.0614% |
| 1974 | #271 | 942 | 0.0642% |
| 1973 | #220 | 1,139 | 0.0781% |
| 1972 | #208 | 1,344 | 0.0883% |
| 1971 | #185 | 1,690 | 0.1016% |
| 1970 | #174 | 1,900 | 0.1087% |
| 1969 | #158 | 2,059 | 0.1220% |
| 1968 | #155 | 2,113 | 0.1288% |
| 1967 | #151 | 2,267 | 0.1373% |
| 1966 | #139 | 2,647 | 0.1564% |
| 1965 | #123 | 3,102 | 0.1757% |
| 1964 | #106 | 3,848 | 0.2031% |
| 1963 | #105 | 4,104 | 0.2129% |
| 1962 | #93 | 4,899 | 0.2491% |
| 1961 | #88 | 5,568 | 0.2759% |
| 1960 | #69 | 6,428 | 0.3179% |
| 1959 | #57 | 7,416 | 0.3665% |
| 1958 | #42 | 10,070 | 0.5006% |
| 1957 | #62 | 7,384 | 0.3611% |
| 1956 | #63 | 7,493 | 0.3732% |
| 1955 | #51 | 7,984 | 0.4083% |
| 1954 | #48 | 8,455 | 0.4354% |
| 1953 | #44 | 8,762 | 0.4657% |
| 1952 | #43 | 8,990 | 0.4848% |
| 1951 | #40 | 9,208 | 0.5113% |
| 1950 | #41 | 8,532 | 0.4981% |
| 1949 | #38 | 9,118 | 0.5329% |
| 1948 | #38 | 9,089 | 0.5353% |
| 1947 | #42 | 8,877 | 0.5007% |
| 1946 | #43 | 7,400 | 0.4709% |
| 1945 | #45 | 5,839 | 0.4467% |
| 1944 | #45 | 6,019 | 0.4535% |
| 1943 | #41 | 6,512 | 0.4667% |
| 1942 | #42 | 6,579 | 0.4871% |
| 1941 | #39 | 6,560 | 0.5430% |
| 1940 | #37 | 6,128 | 0.5359% |
| 1939 | #34 | 6,050 | 0.5517% |
| 1938 | #35 | 6,343 | 0.5748% |
| 1937 | #31 | 6,378 | 0.5994% |
| 1936 | #35 | 6,068 | 0.5833% |
| 1935 | #36 | 5,269 | 0.5025% |
| 1934 | #36 | 6,027 | 0.5772% |
| 1933 | #36 | 5,534 | 0.5490% |
| 1932 | #40 | 5,445 | 0.5102% |
| 1931 | #42 | 5,077 | 0.4768% |
| 1930 | #67 | 4,084 | 0.3627% |
| 1929 | #70 | 3,780 | 0.3385% |
| 1928 | #76 | 3,382 | 0.2932% |
| 1927 | #96 | 2,857 | 0.2396% |
| 1926 | #104 | 2,621 | 0.2211% |
| 1925 | #117 | 2,321 | 0.1907% |
| 1924 | #133 | 2,074 | 0.1661% |
| 1923 | #155 | 1,592 | 0.1320% |
| 1922 | #171 | 1,304 | 0.1086% |
| 1921 | #195 | 1,066 | 0.0865% |
| 1920 | #219 | 875 | 0.0730% |
| 1919 | #235 | 735 | 0.0650% |
| 1918 | #234 | 735 | 0.0635% |
| 1917 | #257 | 580 | 0.0536% |
| 1916 | #258 | 554 | 0.0530% |
| 1915 | #285 | 423 | 0.0430% |
| 1914 | #270 | 373 | 0.0490% |
| 1913 | #283 | 276 | 0.0442% |
| 1912 | #289 | 251 | 0.0450% |
| 1911 | #282 | 192 | 0.0459% |
| 1910 | #272 | 204 | 0.0514% |
| 1909 | #281 | 162 | 0.0467% |
| 1908 | #289 | 150 | 0.0449% |
| 1907 | #323 | 115 | 0.0361% |
| 1906 | #280 | 140 | 0.0474% |
| 1905 | #328 | 106 | 0.0363% |
| 1904 | #307 | 111 | 0.0403% |
| 1903 | #321 | 93 | 0.0355% |
| 1902 | #353 | 82 | 0.0311% |
| 1901 | #373 | 64 | 0.0267% |
| 1900 | #380 | 77 | 0.0257% |
| 1899 | #411 | 51 | 0.0219% |
| 1898 | #408 | 58 | 0.0224% |
| 1897 | #430 | 47 | 0.0201% |
| 1896 | #433 | 45 | 0.0189% |
| 1895 | #419 | 46 | 0.0197% |
| 1894 | #502 | 33 | 0.0148% |
| 1893 | #461 | 34 | 0.0160% |
| 1892 | #561 | 25 | 0.0118% |
| 1891 | #689 | 16 | 0.0086% |
| 1890 | #557 | 23 | 0.0121% |
| 1889 | #750 | 13 | 0.0073% |
| 1888 | #716 | 14 | 0.0078% |
| 1887 | #555 | 17 | 0.0116% |
| 1886 | #598 | 15 | 0.0104% |
| 1885 | #688 | 11 | 0.0083% |
| 1884 | #780 | 9 | 0.0070% |
| 1883 | #901 | 6 | 0.0053% |
| 1882 | #881 | 6 | 0.0056% |
| 1880 | #487 | 13 | 0.0143% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | #6,587 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1976 | #6,249 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1971 | #3,587 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #2,843 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1969 | #3,253 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1968 | #4,016 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #2,322 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1966 | #3,176 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1965 | #2,580 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,524 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1963 | #2,503 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1962 | #2,014 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1961 | #2,213 | 15 | 0.0007% |
| 1960 | #2,396 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1959 | #2,025 | 17 | 0.0008% |
| 1958 | #2,234 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1957 | #1,708 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1956 | #1,802 | 20 | 0.0009% |
| 1955 | #2,202 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1954 | #2,286 | 13 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #1,945 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1952 | #1,651 | 22 | 0.0011% |
| 1951 | #2,027 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1950 | #2,090 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1949 | #2,006 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1948 | #1,801 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1947 | #1,586 | 23 | 0.0013% |
| 1946 | #1,743 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1945 | #2,357 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1944 | #2,166 | 12 | 0.0009% |
| 1943 | #1,454 | 24 | 0.0017% |
| 1942 | #1,522 | 22 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,247 | 29 | 0.0024% |
| 1940 | #1,965 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1939 | #1,267 | 28 | 0.0025% |
| 1938 | #1,144 | 33 | 0.0030% |
| 1937 | #1,284 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1936 | #1,135 | 34 | 0.0033% |
| 1935 | #1,289 | 28 | 0.0027% |
| 1934 | #1,838 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1933 | #1,273 | 28 | 0.0028% |
| 1932 | #1,902 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1931 | #1,581 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1930 | #2,150 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1929 | #1,984 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1928 | #3,016 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #2,860 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1926 | #3,311 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1925 | #4,086 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1924 | #3,770 | 7 | 0.0006% |
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.
Explore Name Lists Featuring Peggy
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 Peggy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have a power of expression, either in speaking or writing. You are in favor for studying and research. You are clever, clear-sighted and intellectual. You don't like to let others know your true feelings. You might be atheistic or agnostic. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Peggy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Peggy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.