Marjorie
/ˈmɑɹ.d͡ʒə.ɹi/
Marjorie is a medieval English variant of Margery, itself a form of Margaret, which traces back through Latin Margarita and Greek margarites to a word meaning “pearl.” The spelling Marjorie was influenced by the name of the marjoram herb, whose spelling the name gradually absorbed in English usage.
Margaret was one of the most common women’s names in medieval Europe, carried by queens, saints, and scholars. Marjorie emerged as a distinctly Scottish and northern English form in the 13th and 14th centuries. Marjorie Bruce (c. 1296-1316), daughter of Robert the Bruce of Scotland, is one of the earliest notable bearers.
In the United States, Marjorie was enormously popular in the 1920s and 1930s, consistently ranking in the top 30 girl names. Novelist Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (1896-1953), author of The Yearling, brought the name intellectual prestige. It faded through the mid-20th century but has been returning since the 2010s as part of the vintage revival.
What the name Marjorie means
Marjorie has four syllables: MAR-jor-ee. The nickname Marge or Margie brings it into casual use. It has a warm, substantive quality - a name with actual history rather than invented charm.
Marjorie ranked No. 821 in the United States in 2024 with approximately 380 births - a genuine comeback from near-absence in the 1990s and 2000s.
The Taylor Swift song “marjorie” (2020), written about her grandmother, introduced the name to a generation of fans and is broadly credited with accelerating its revival.
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Marjorie
Marjorie - similar names
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