girl's name
Margaret
MAR-guh-ret
- Origin Greek
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 3
- Letters 8
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 1,300,139
the United States
#112
2025 births
Margaret is a girl's name of Greek origin meaning "pearl," from margarites. The Greek word was itself borrowed from further east, most likely from Persian or an older Semitic source, so the name traveled a long way before reaching Europe.
- Margaret is a name of Greek origin.
- Peaked in 1921, when 28,521 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 1,361 babies in the United States is given this name.
- 3 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Margaret over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 21,894 |
| 1890s | 38,060 |
| 1900s | 58,137 |
| 1910s | 189,707 |
| 1920s | 245,709 |
| 1930s | 158,077 |
| 1940s | 173,518 |
| 1950s | 149,898 |
| 1960s | 82,130 |
| 1970s | 32,067 |
| 1980s | 30,512 |
| 1990s | 31,360 |
| 2000s | 23,931 |
| 2010s | 20,042 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 13,477 |
What Margaret means
Margaret means pearl, from the Greek margarites. Greek borrowed the word rather than forming it, so the ultimate origin lies somewhere in the Persian or Semitic east.
Where Margaret comes from
Margaret comes from the Greek margarites, meaning pearl, itself a loanword probably from Old Persian or a Semitic language — the same source behind the Sanskrit manjari. The name spread through Christian Europe via Saint Margaret of Antioch, one of the most venerated saints of the medieval period, and Saint Margaret of Scotland, an eleventh-century queen. It became one of the most common English names for centuries and generated an extraordinary number of pet forms: Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Daisy, Margot, Greta, Rita, Marge and Madge among them. Peggy arose from Meg by the same rhyming fashion that gave Bob from Rob.
Margaret in use
Margaret produced Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Daisy, Margot, Greta, Rita and Madge — one of the largest nickname families in English.
How popular is Margaret?
In 2025, Margaret was given to 2,436 babies in the United States, ranking #112 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Where Margaret is used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Margaret
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Margaret also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Margaret over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
15 nicknames for Margaret
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Margaret in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Margaret
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Margaret — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Margaret
What does the name Margaret mean?
Margaret means "pearl," from the Greek margarites.
Why is Peggy short for Margaret?
Peggy came from Meg by the medieval rhyming fashion that also gave Bob from Rob.
Is Daisy connected to Margaret?
Yes. Marguerite is French for both pearl and daisy, which made Daisy a nickname for Margaret.
How popular is the name Margaret?
In 2025, Margaret was given to 2,436 babies in the United States, ranking #112 that year. It is a well-established, commonly used name.
Is Margaret a girl's or a boy's name?
Margaret is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Margaret?
Margaret has 3 syllables.
When was Margaret most popular?
Margaret peaked in 1921, when 28,521 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
What are the nicknames for Margaret?
Margaret is usually shortened to Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Rita, Daisy and Pearl.
Is Margaret a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Margaret currently ranks #112 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.