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.

Infographic of Margaret name meaning, which is An English variant of Margarita, Margaret means pearl.
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Margaret Name Popularity

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

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 3 8,222 2.3352%
1911 3 9,279 2.4918%
1912 4 12,535 2.4856%
1913 4 14,486 2.555%
1914 4 17,763 2.5488%
1915 4 23,054 2.5375%
1916 4 24,952 2.5831%
1917 4 25,560 2.5549%
1918 4 27,140 2.5288%
1919 4 26,237 2.5056%
1920 4 27,997 2.518%
1921 4 28,466 2.486%
1922 4 26,864 2.4113%
1923 4 26,133 2.3332%
1924 5 26,550 2.2863%
1925 5 24,464 2.1644%
1926 5 23,068 2.0973%
1927 5 21,964 1.9842%
1928 5 20,294 1.8967%
1929 5 19,207 1.8543%
1930 5 18,351 1.7568%
1931 7 17,333 1.7562%
1932 7 16,548 1.675%
1933 7 15,239 1.6357%
1934 8 15,146 1.5668%
1935 8 14,724 1.5152%
1936 9 14,593 1.5149%
1937 10 15,145 1.537%
1938 9 15,330 1.4975%
1939 10 14,952 1.4699%
1940 11 15,058 1.4167%
1941 12 15,696 1.3946%
1942 14 16,551 1.3107%
1943 14 17,150 1.3137%
1944 14 16,318 1.3166%
1945 15 15,682 1.2859%
1946 17 18,132 1.2288%
1947 16 20,103 1.2043%
1948 13 18,872 1.1822%
1949 14 19,451 1.2092%
1950 15 18,111 1.1248%
1951 17 17,693 1.0435%
1952 21 17,097 0.9795%
1953 20 16,201 0.9154%
1954 21 15,225 0.8329%
1955 24 14,436 0.7848%
1956 25 13,914 0.7367%
1957 29 13,009 0.676%
1958 31 12,312 0.6514%
1959 36 11,573 0.6091%
1960 36 11,367 0.5999%
1961 40 10,547 0.5587%
1962 43 10,076 0.5488%
1963 46 9,303 0.5183%
1964 49 9,108 0.5174%
1965 52 7,793 0.4765%
1966 54 6,961 0.4458%
1967 58 6,227 0.4103%
1968 63 5,437 0.3621%
1969 73 5,044 0.3274%
1970 80 4,701 0.2954%
1971 86 4,001 0.2663%
1972 95 3,279 0.2407%
1973 94 3,155 0.2434%
1974 95 3,088 0.2376%
1975 99 2,940 0.2288%
1976 102 2,668 0.207%
1977 111 2,621 0.1944%
1978 110 2,632 0.1958%
1979 108 2,822 0.2001%
1980 105 2,856 0.1953%
1981 107 2,787 0.1896%
1982 97 2,993 0.2003%
1983 92 2,943 0.1994%
1984 92 3,035 0.204%
1985 90 3,069 0.2022%
1986 89 3,079 0.204%
1987 91 3,138 0.2056%
1988 93 3,138 0.2014%
1989 97 3,277 0.2031%
1990 102 3,366 0.2031%
1991 108 3,188 0.1956%
1992 101 3,238 0.2029%
1993 102 3,159 0.2026%
1994 107 3,095 0.2017%
1995 104 3,210 0.213%
1996 105 3,097 0.2068%
1997 110 2,952 0.1996%
1998 114 2,960 0.1978%
1999 110 2,944 0.1966%
2000 110 3,114 0.2038%
2001 118 2,885 0.1915%
2002 129 2,665 0.1778%
2003 128 2,614 0.1718%
2004 133 2,424 0.159%
2005 150 2,299 0.1504%
2006 161 2,172 0.1387%
2007 173 2,005 0.1271%
2008 179 1,845 0.1194%
2009 187 1,742 0.1165%
2010 181 1,687 0.1171%
2011 187 1,680 0.1179%
2012 175 1,762 0.1236%
2013 176 1,767 0.1241%
2014 166 1,939 0.1331%
2015 153 2,085 0.1433%
2016 137 2,206 0.153%
2017 130 2,229 0.1597%
2018 125 2,302 0.1676%
2019 124 2,187 0.1616%
2020 126 2,101 0.1651%
2021 124 2,094 0.1713%
2022 127 2,164 0.164%

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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 Popularity Other Gender
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 Popularity Other Gender
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 Popularity Other Gender
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

4 Comments

  1. Na

  2. 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.

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

  4. 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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