Margaret
Margaret is a girls' name of Greek origin meaning “pearl.” It ranked #112 in the United States in 2025. From Greek 'margarites' meaning pearl.
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how do you pronounce Margaret?
MAR-guh-ret
where does the name Margaret come from?
From the Greek margarites, pearl, which came into Greek from an Indo-Iranian source. Folk etymology later reshaped it into a phrase meaning stone of the sea.
Saint Margaret of Antioch was among the most venerated saints of the Middle Ages; the name was borne by queens of Scotland, England, and Navarre, cementing its aristocratic stature.
how popular is this name?
Margaret has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #3 in 1891, and ranked #112 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #112 |
| 2024 | #119 |
| 2023 | #132 |
| 2022 | #127 |
| 2021 | #125 |
| 2020 | #126 |
| 2019 | #127 |
| 2018 | #127 |
| 2017 | #132 |
| 2016 | #139 |
| 2010 | #182 |
| 2000 | #110 |
| 1990 | #102 |
| 1980 | #105 |
| 1970 | #80 |
| 1960 | #36 |
| 1950 | #15 |
| 1940 | #11 |
| 1930 | #5 |
| 1920 | #4 |
| 1910 | #3 |
| 1900 | #4 |
| 1891 | #3 |
| 1890 | #4 |
| 1880 | #6 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Margaret fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Margaret
Margaret has been an English name since the eleventh century; it was popular through the Middle Ages and less so from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. It owes its currency to St Margaret the Virgin, a legendary third-century saint.
who are famous people named Margaret?
- Margaret Thatcher (Prime Minister)
- Princess Margaret (British royal)
- Margaret Atwood (author)
- Margaret Mead (anthropologist)
what are the nicknames and variants of Margaret?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Margaret?
what names go well with Margaret?
Sibling names that share Margaret's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Margaret
What does the name Margaret mean?
Margaret means “pearl”.
What is the origin of the name Margaret?
Margaret comes from the Greek naming tradition. Related forms include Marguerite, Margarita and Margarethe.
How popular is the name Margaret?
Margaret ranked #112 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 1891, at #3, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Margaret a boy or girl name?
Margaret is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Margaret?
Margaret is pronounced MAR-guh-ret, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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