Margot
MAHR-goh
Margot is a French short form of Marguerite, the French equivalent of Margaret, itself from the Latin Margarita and ultimately the Greek margarites, meaning “pearl.” Margot has been in use as an independent given name in France since at least the 14th
century.
The name is associated historically with Marguerite de Valois (1553-1615), Queen of Navarre and the first wife of Henry IV of France, popularly known as Queen Margot.
What the name Margot means
Her colorful life and the religious conflicts of the French Wars of Religion were dramatized in Alexandre Dumas’ 1845 novel La Reine Margot and its 1994 film adaptation.
In the 20th century, Margot became internationally recognized through Dame Margot Fonteyn (1919-1991), the British prima ballerina considered among the greatest of the 20th century.
Her partnership with Rudolf Nureyev at the Royal Ballet brought global attention to the name.
In the United States, Margot has been in modest use through the 20th century and saw a notable increase in the 2010s, entering the top 300 and continuing to climb.
It benefits from the vintage revival trend that has also elevated Margaret, Josephine, and Vivienne. The character Margot Tenenbaum in Wes Anderson’s 2001 film The Royal Tenenbaums gave the name a distinctive indie cultural cache.
The silent t in Margot gives it a distinctly French orthographic identity that sets it apart from the more phonetic spelling Margo.
Both forms are used in the United States and United Kingdom, with Margot generally preferred among parents seeking the name’s full European heritage, and Margo favored as a simpler, more Anglicized alternative.
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 Margot
Margot - similar names
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