girl's name
Margo
MAR-goh (English)
- Origin French, Greek
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 5
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 30,892
the United States
#559
2025 births
Margo is a girl's name meaning "pearl." It's a respelling of the French Margot, a pet form of Marguerite and Margaret, from the Greek margaron. The shorter spelling has a crisp, vintage feel, and it's now well used in several English-speaking countries.
- Margo is a name of French, Greek origin.
- Peaked in 1954, when 720 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1950s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
- Today about 1 in 6,140 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1905.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Margo Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1900s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 26 |
| 1910s | 151 |
| 1920s | 304 |
| 1930s | 1,209 |
| 1940s | 4,803 |
| 1950s | 5,891 |
| 1960s | 3,961 |
| 1970s | 2,277 |
| 1980s | 1,747 |
| 1990s | 1,217 |
| 2000s | 886 |
| 2010s | 1,817 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,953 |
What Margo Means
Margo means pearl, through Margaret. Greek speakers borrowed the word from an older eastern language, and the image of a precious pearl has stayed with the name ever since.
Where Margo Comes From
Greek margaron, pearl, probably came from Sanskrit or Persian, and Latin made it Margarita. French shaped Marguerite, and Margot grew as its medieval pet form, famous through Marguerite de Valois, known as Queen Margot. English speakers then dropped the silent t to fix the pronunciation. The French word marguerite also means a daisy, and Margaret has long been linked to that flower. Margo appears in American use by the early twentieth century. Reference sites agree on the root, and the spelling follows how the name sounds.
Margo in Use
Bette Davis's Margo Channing in All About Eve made it a screen legend. Margot Robbie and Margot Tenenbaum have since revived interest in both spellings.
How Popular Is Margo?
In 2025, Margo was given to 540 babies in the United States, ranking #559 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Margo 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 Margo
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Margo Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Margo over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Margo
- English MAR-goh
Margo 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 Margo
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Margo — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Margo
What does the name Margo mean?
Pearl, through Margaret.
What is the difference between Margo and Margot?
Margo drops the silent t of the French spelling.
Is Margo short for Margaret?
Yes, though it's often given as a full name.
How popular is the name Margo?
In 2025, Margo was given to 540 babies in the United States, ranking #559 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Margo a girl's or a boy's name?
Margo is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Margo?
Margo has 2 syllables.
When was Margo most popular?
Margo peaked in 1954, when 720 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1950s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
Is Margo a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Margo currently ranks #246 in the United States. After peaking in the 1950s 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.