Margaret
Margaret Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
MAHR-ger-iht
Meaning of Margaret: Margaret derives from Greek margarites, meaning pearl. The Greek term came from an earlier Eastern source, likely Sanskrit manyari or Persian murvarid. According to etymology records, the pearl was the most valued gem in the ancient Mediterranean world before diamonds.
Saint Margaret of Antioch, traditionally dated to around 304 CE, became one of the most popular saints in medieval Europe. Women invoked her in childbirth, and church councils counted her among the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Her feast day on 20 July made Margaret a common baptismal choice across Catholic Europe.
A second Saint Margaret, Queen of Scotland (1045 to 1093), was a Hungarian-born princess who served as the country's patron saint. Her descendants shaped Scottish royal lines for four centuries. English royal families carried Margaret repeatedly, including Margaret of Anjou (1430 to 1482), queen consort of Henry VI.
What Does Margaret Mean? Origin & Etymology
Lady Margaret Beaufort (1443 to 1509), mother of Henry VII and founder of Christ's College Cambridge, gave the name political weight across the Tudor era. British royalty kept Margaret visible through to Princess Margaret (1930 to 2002), sister of Queen Elizabeth II, across a full millennium of use.
United States SSA records at ssa.gov show Margaret peaked near rank 4 in 1921. The name stayed in the US top 100 continuously from 1880 through 2012, a 132 year unbroken run, among the longest in American naming history. Margaret holds #130 in 2024.
Notably, Margaret carries more nicknames than any other name, including Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Daisy, Greta, Maisie, and Rita. Each short form charts independently in modern registers. That flexibility has driven renewed interest from US parents seeking a classic name with multiple everyday options.
How Popular Is Margaret?
Numerology & Symbolism of Margaret
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Margaret – Similar Names & Alternatives
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Frequently Asked Questions about Margaret
What does the name Margaret mean?
Margaret means "pearl," from Greek margarites. The pearl was the most valued gem in the ancient Mediterranean world, and naming a daughter Margaret expressed the highest possible estimation of her worth. The word may derive from ancient Oriental roots including Sanskrit and Persian terms for the gem.
How many nicknames does Margaret have?
Margaret has an extraordinary range of nicknames -- more than almost any other English name. The main ones are Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Peg, Greta, Maisie, Daisy, Rita, Marga, Gretel, and Madge. Daisy emerged from Marguerite (the French form), which is also the French word for the daisy flower. The nickname diversity reflects centuries of linguistic creativity around this central name.
How popular is Margaret historically?
Margaret peaked near rank 4 in the US in 1921. It was inside the top 100 continuously from 1880 through 2012 -- 132 consecutive years -- one of the longest unbroken top-100 runs in American naming history. It has since shown renewed interest, ranking 130th in 2024.
Who are famous people named Margaret?
Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013) was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, serving 1979-1990. Margaret Atwood (born 1939) is the Canadian author of The Handmaid's Tale. Princess Margaret (1930-2002) was the sister of Queen Elizabeth II. Margaret Sanger (1879-1966) founded what became Planned Parenthood.
What are names similar to Margaret?
Names sharing the pearl meaning include Pearl and Margarita. Names in the same classic vintage category include Eleanor, Florence, Harriet, and Beatrice. The French form Marguerite and the German form Margarete are equally classic. Margot, a French short form, is inside the 2024 US top 100 and is one of the fastest-growing derivatives of the Margaret family.