Margaret

Meaning: Pearl
Origin: From Ancient Greek, via Latin and Old French

Nicknames: Megan, Peggy, Maggie, Meg, Maisie

Girl's name · #112 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Margaret has held steady since 1880, standing at #112 in 2025. At one stretch it held the national top 10 for 60 consecutive years.

Across the states

See where Margaret is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 50 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Margaret ranks in other countries and regions.

#136 in Ireland (2025) · #204 in New Zealand (2025) · #265 in Scotland (2025) · #316 in N. Ireland (2025) · #416 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,302 in Ecuador (2025) · #1,688 in France (2025) · #279 in Canada (2024).

Famous Margarets

Margaret Thatcher — British stateswoman and prime minister (1925–2013)
Margaret Atwood — Canadian poet (born 1939)
Margaret Mitchell — American author and journalist (1900–1949)
Margaret Mead — American anthropologist (1901–1978)
Margaret of Valois-Angoulême — Queen consort of Navarre (1492–1549)

In stories & tradition

Margaret (Maggie Simpson) — The Simpsons (TV series)
Margaret (Maggie Greene) — The Walking Dead (comics)
Margaret (Peggy Carter) — Captain America: The First Avenger (film)

What Margarets become

Among 3,523 notable people named Margaret:

Artists & writers appear 1.59× more often than among typical names — e.g. Margaret Atwood, Canadian poet (born 1939).

Spellings & nicknames

Earlier generations knew Madge — the standard of the 1890s — and Marge, the 1920s. About 1,100 girls a year are given Maisie as their full name, 1,100 Maggie, and 400 Megan.

Similar names: Maisie · Julia · Maria · Rose · Georgia · Catherine

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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