Margaret

“Pearl” — Ancient Greek, via Latin and Old French origin

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

Margaret has held steady since 1880, standing at #112 in 2025. At one stretch it held the national top 10 for 60 consecutive years. Margaret's short forms are Megan, Peggy, Maggie, Meg, and Maisie. 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.

Around the world: about 1 in 600 girls in Ireland (2025) · about 1 in 690 girls in New Zealand (2025) · about 1 in 1,300 girls in Scotland (2025).

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

Famous Margarets

Margaret Thatcher — British stateswoman and prime minister (1925–2013)
Margaret Atwood — Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, pépiniériste and inventor (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
Margaret (Maggie Greene) — The Walking Dead · The Walking Dead: Dead City
Margaret (Peggy Carter) — Captain America: The First Avenger · Captain America: The Winter Soldier

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, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, pépiniériste and inventor (born 1939).

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

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

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