Margaret
MAHR-ger-iht
Margaret derives from the Latin Margarita, which in turn comes from the Greek margarites, meaning “pearl.” The Greek word was itself borrowed from an ancient Persian or Sanskrit root.
Pearls held exceptional value in the ancient world, and the name carried connotations of preciousness and purity from its earliest use.
Saint Margaret of Antioch (also called Marina in the Eastern Church), a Christian martyr of the 3rd or 4th century, was among the most venerated saints of medieval Europe, and her cult drove widespread adoption of the name across the continent.
What the name Margaret means
Saint Margaret of Scotland (c. 1045-1093), canonized in 1250, further embedded the name in British and Scottish identity.
Throughout the Middle Ages and into the early modern period, Margaret was among the most common feminine names in England, Scotland, France, Germany, and Scandinavia.
Multiple queens bore the name, including Margaret of Anjou (1430-1482) and Margaret Tudor (1489-1541), daughter of Henry VII.
In the United States, Margaret ranked in the top 10 girls’ names from the 1880s through the 1950s. While it declined through the late 20th century, it has experienced renewed interest in the 2010s and 2020s as a grandparent-era name undergoing revival.
Notable modern bearers include Margaret Atwood, born 1939, the Canadian author of The Handmaid’s Tale.
The name’s rich array of diminutives - Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Maisie, Rita, Greta, Margot, and Margie - give it exceptional flexibility.
Few names in the English tradition offer such breadth of formal-to-casual variation, making Margaret a name that can adapt to personality across a lifetime.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Margaret
Margaret - similar names
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