Margaret Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Girl Names Like Margaret

Margaret Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: mar-gah-ret, mar-gret
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Margaret Name Meaning

As mentioned before, the original meaning of Margaret is “pearl.” But over time, the name has taken on additional meanings, such as “child of light” and “pearl of wisdom.” It’s no surprise that many notable figures throughout history have been named Margaret, as the name is associated with intelligence, beauty, and grace.

Origins of the Name Margaret

The name Margaret has its roots in ancient Greece, deriving from the name Margarites, which means “pearl.” It was later adopted by the Romans and became popular throughout Europe during the Middle Ages.

Popularity of the Name Margaret

Margaret has been a popular name for centuries and has been borne by many notable figures throughout history. Some of the most famous Margarets include:

Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Margaret Mead, an American cultural anthropologist
Margaret Atwood, a Canadian author and feminist
Margaret Hamilton, an American computer scientist who helped develop the software for the Apollo space program
Margaret Cho, an American comedian and actress

In recent years, the name Margaret has seen a resurgence in popularity, likely due to the name’s classic and timeless appeal. It’s a strong, elegant name that has stood the test of time.

Final Thoughts on the Name Margaret

Margaret is a truly fantastic name. It’s classic and elegant, with a rich history and a variety of meanings. Plus, there are so many amazing women throughout history who have been named Margaret, which just goes to show how powerful and accomplished the name can be.

In conclusion, Margaret is a name with a rich history and a variety of meanings. It has been borne by many notable figures throughout history and has recently seen a resurgence in popularity. With its classic and timeless appeal, Margaret is a name that is sure to stand the test of time.

Margaret Name Popularity

How popular is the name Margaret? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	—	8,222	2.3352%
1911	—	9,279	2.4918%
1912	—	12,535	2.4856%
1913	—	14,486	2.555%
1914	—	17,763	2.5488%
1915	—	23,054	2.5375%
1916	—	24,952	2.5831%
1917	—	25,560	2.5549%
1918	—	27,140	2.5288%
1919	—	26,237	2.5056%
1920	—	27,997	2.518%
1921	—	28,466	2.486%
1922	—	26,864	2.4113%
1923	—	26,133	2.3332%
1924	—	26,550	2.2863%
1925	—	24,464	2.1644%
1926	—	23,068	2.0973%
1927	—	21,964	1.9842%
1928	—	20,294	1.8967%
1929	—	19,207	1.8543%
1930	—	18,351	1.7568%
1931	—	17,333	1.7562%
1932	—	16,548	1.675%
1933	—	15,239	1.6357%
1934	—	15,146	1.5668%
1935	—	14,724	1.5152%
1936	—	14,593	1.5149%
1937	—	15,145	1.537%
1938	—	15,330	1.4975%
1939	—	14,952	1.4699%
1940	—	15,058	1.4167%
1941	—	15,696	1.3946%
1942	—	16,551	1.3107%
1943	—	17,150	1.3137%
1944	—	16,318	1.3166%
1945	—	15,682	1.2859%
1946	—	18,132	1.2288%
1947	—	20,103	1.2043%
1948	—	18,872	1.1822%
1949	—	19,451	1.2092%
1950	—	18,111	1.1248%
1951	—	17,693	1.0435%
1952	—	17,097	0.9795%
1953	—	16,201	0.9154%
1954	—	15,225	0.8329%
1955	—	14,436	0.7848%
1956	—	13,914	0.7367%
1957	—	13,009	0.676%
1958	—	12,312	0.6514%
1959	—	11,573	0.6091%
1960	—	11,367	0.5999%
1961	—	10,547	0.5587%
1962	—	10,076	0.5488%
1963	—	9,303	0.5183%
1964	—	9,108	0.5174%
1965	—	7,793	0.4765%
1966	—	6,961	0.4458%
1967	—	6,227	0.4103%
1968	—	5,437	0.3621%
1969	—	5,044	0.3274%
1970	—	4,701	0.2954%
1971	—	4,001	0.2663%
1972	—	3,279	0.2407%
1973	—	3,155	0.2434%
1974	—	3,088	0.2376%
1975	—	2,940	0.2288%
1976	—	2,668	0.207%
1977	—	2,621	0.1944%
1978	—	2,632	0.1958%
1979	—	2,822	0.2001%
1980	—	2,856	0.1953%
1981	—	2,787	0.1896%
1982	—	2,993	0.2003%
1983	—	2,943	0.1994%
1984	—	3,035	0.204%
1985	—	3,069	0.2022%
1986	—	3,079	0.204%
1987	—	3,138	0.2056%
1988	—	3,138	0.2014%
1989	—	3,277	0.2031%
1990	—	3,366	0.2031%
1991	—	3,188	0.1956%
1992	—	3,238	0.2029%
1993	—	3,159	0.2026%
1994	—	3,095	0.2017%
1995	—	3,210	0.213%
1996	—	3,097	0.2068%
1997	—	2,952	0.1996%
1998	—	2,960	0.1978%
1999	—	2,944	0.1966%
2000	—	3,114	0.2038%
2001	—	2,885	0.1915%
2002	—	2,665	0.1778%
2003	—	2,614	0.1718%
2004	—	2,424	0.159%
2005	—	2,299	0.1504%
2006	—	2,172	0.1387%
2007	—	2,005	0.1271%
2008	—	1,845	0.1194%
2009	—	1,742	0.1165%
2010	—	1,687	0.1171%
2011	—	1,680	0.1179%
2012	—	1,762	0.1236%
2013	—	1,767	0.1241%
2014	—	1,939	0.1331%
2015	—	2,085	0.1433%
2016	—	2,206	0.153%
2017	—	2,229	0.1597%
2018	—	2,302	0.1676%
2019	—	2,187	0.1616%
2020	—	2,101	0.1651%
2021	—	2,094	0.1713%
2022	—	2,164	0.164%
2023	—	2,075	0.1603%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Margaret

If you like Margaret, you’ll love these other names like Margaret.

What names are diminutives of Margaret?

A diminutive is a name that’s like Margaret sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Margaret, but shorter.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Daisy	Daisy flower	English
Gredel	“The pearl.” Regarded as a German variant of Grethel, a form of Margaret, which see.	German
Greta	“The pearl,” a diminutive form of Margaret, which see.	German
Madge	“A pearl.” A diminutive form of Margaret.	Greek
Maggie	Pearl	English
Maisie	“A little pearl.” A diminutive form of Margaret.	Scottish
Meg	“The little pearl.” A diminutive form, through the Scottish, of Margaret.	Greek
Peg	Pearl	Greek
Peggy	A variant form of Peg.	Greek
Rita	Right	Spanish

What names are variants of Margaret?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Margaret.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Greta	“The pearl,” a diminutive form of Margaret, which see.	German
Gretal	Pearl	Greek
Gretchen	“The little pearl.” Regarded as a diminutive of Margarete, the German equivalent of Margaret, which see.	German
Gretel	Pearl	Greek

Grethel	Pearl	Greek
Gretl	Pearl	Greek
Gretta	Pearl	Greek
Grette	Pearl	Greek
Madge	“A pearl.” A diminutive form of Margaret.	Greek
Mag	Pearl	Greek
Maggi	Pearl	Greek
Maggie	Pearl	English
Maggy	Pearl	Greek
Maiga	Pearl	Greek
Maighread	Pearl	Greek
Mairead	Pearl	Greek
Maisie	“A little pearl.” A diminutive form of Margaret.	Scottish
Maisy	Pearl	Greek
Malgorzata	Pearl	Greek

Marcheta	Pearl	Greek
Marchieta	Pearl	Greek
Marga	Pearl	Greek
Margalit	Pearl	Greek
Margalo	Pearl	Greek
Margareta	Pearl	Greek
Margarete	Pearl	Greek
Margarethe	Pearl	Greek
Margaretta	Pearl	Greek
Margarette	Pearl	Greek
Margarida	Pearl	Greek
Margarit	Pearl	Greek
Margarita	Pearl	Greek
Margarite	Pearl	Greek
Margaruite	Pearl	Greek

Marge	Pearl	Greek
Marged	Pearl	Greek
Margeen	Pearl	Greek
Margeret	Pearl	Greek
Margeretta	Pearl	Greek
Margerie	Pearl	Greek
Margerita	Pearl	Greek
Margery	A variant form of Margaret.	French
Marget	Pearl	Greek
Margette	Pearl	Greek
Margey	Pearl	Greek
Marghanita	Pearl	Greek
Margharita	Pearl	Greek
Margherita	Pearl	Greek
Marghretta	Pearl	Greek

Margie	Pearl	Greek
Margies	Pearl	Greek
Margisia	Pearl	Greek
Margit	Pearl	Greek
Margita	Pearl	Greek
Margize	Pearl	Greek
Margo	Pearl	French
Margot	Pearl	French
Margred	Pearl	Greek
Margret	Pearl	Greek
Margrete	Pearl	Greek
Margreth	Pearl	Greek
Margrett	Pearl	Greek
Margrid	Pearl	Greek
Margrit	Pearl	Greek

Marguarette	Pearl	Greek
Marguarita	Pearl	Greek
Marguerita	Pearl	Greek
Marguerite	A variant form, regarded as French, of Margaret.	French
Marguita	Pearl	Greek
Margy	Pearl	Greek
Marit	Pearl; lady; mistress of the house	Greek
Marjery	Pearl	Greek
Marjey	Pearl	Greek
Marji	Pearl	Greek
Marjie	Pearl	Greek
Marjorey	Pearl	Greek
Marjorie	Pearl	English
Marjory	Pearl	Greek
Marketa		European

Marketta	Pearl	Greek
Markie	Pearl	Greek
Markita	Pearl	Greek
Marquetta	Pearl	Greek
Meg	“The little pearl.” A diminutive form, through the Scottish, of Margaret.	Greek
Megan	Pearl	Welsh
Meggi	Pearl	Welsh
Meggie	Pearl	Welsh
Meggy	Pearl	Welsh
Meghan	Pearl	Welsh
Meta	“The goal,” from the Latin meta, a post used to mark the goal in ancient Roman races.	German
Mette	Pearl	Greek
Meyta	Pearl	Greek
Peg	Pearl	Greek
Pegeen	Pearl	Greek

Peggie	Pearl	Greek
Peggy	A variant form of Peg.	Greek
Rita	Right	Spanish

What names sound like Margaret?

If you like how Margaret sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Margaret.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Margeree		French
Margerey		French

What names are similar to Margaret?

Find a name that’s like Margaret, but just a little bit different.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Daisy	Daisy flower	English
Magali	Pearl	Persian
Mamie	A variant form of Mary.	Latin
Pearl	Pearl	Latin
Reta		Greek

Lists With Margaret

Find inspiration in these baby girl name lists featuring the name Margaret.

Siblings of Margaret

Mamas with kids named Margaret also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Owen	Noble born	Welsh
Josie	God will increase	English

Share Your Thoughts

7 Comments

Leah Mar 16 at 10:09 am

My mother-in-law’s name is Peggy, a derivative of Margaret. We like to include some family link with our babies’ names.

Reply
Linda Feb 7 at 10:51 am

My mom’s name, Margaret, was pronounced with 2 syllables. The original spelling has an e at the end – Margarete. My son and daughter in-law will use Margaret as a middle name. He wants to pronounce it with 3 syllables!

Reply
D Jun 6 at 8:06 am

Family name

Reply
Kailey Feb 15 at 12:52 pm

Na

Reply
Susan Apr 22 at 11:46 am

I chose Margaret because my great aunt (who is over 100) is named Margaret. I have a great relationship with my great aunt and thought it would be great to name my daughter after her.

Reply
Katie Jul 20 at 10:16 am

We chose the name Margaret because we like the nickname Maggie and for its meaning – pearl.

Reply
Hattie Sep 2 at 10:18 am

We have had the same criteria for all our kid’s names. 1. Something that is classic and has been around awhile. 2. Something most people would know how to pronounce when reading and spell when writing. So a generally familiar name. 3. A name that can grow with our child. So, not a cutesy kid name. The name Margaret checks those boxes. We are calling her Maggie for now though.

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