Margaret

Pronunciation: [ m-AHRG-er-iht ]

Girl Name #119 Most Popular Rising 3 Syllables

A pearl of a name with a thousand years of history

English Scottish Irish French German Spanish Italian

Classic Royal Vintage Literary Sophisticated

Meaning & Origin

"pearl"

Origin: Greek

Language: English

"precious gem, pearl of great price"

Origin: Persian

Language: French

"pearl"

Origin: Greek via Latin

Language: English

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.

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

Famous People Named Margaret

Margaret Atwood

Writer

1939

Canadian author of The Handmaid's Tale and the MaddAddam trilogy, one of the world's most important living novelists

Princess Margaret

Royalty

1930

Younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, known for her glamour and complex personal life

Margaret Thatcher

Politician

1925

First female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1979-1990), known as the Iron Lady

Margaret Mead

Scientist

1901

Influential American cultural anthropologist known for her studies of Pacific Island societies

Meg March Fictional

Other

Eldest of the March sisters in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868)

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

Margot #126 Margo #544 Margaux #1213 Margarita #1802 Marguerite #2404

Common Nicknames

Maggie Meg Peggy Marge Greta Rita Margo

Pairs Well With

Margaret Rose Margaret Ann Margaret Jane Margaret Claire Margaret Louise Margaret Elise Margaret Honor

Sibling Names

Eleanor Catherine Edward William Charlotte Elizabeth Thomas

Also a Boy Name

Margaret is also used as a boy name, ranked #19732.

View Margaret as a boy name →

Similar Names

Marguerite Rita Margarita Greta Margo Gittel Margaux Grettel

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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.

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.