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Margaret as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Margaret

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The baby name Margaret is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑːrɡərət/ (MAR-gə-ret); also commonly /ˈmæɡərət/ (MAG-ə-ret).

Margaret is Greek in Origin.

Gender: Female
Syllables: 3.0
Origin: Greek
Pronunciation: /ˈmɑːrɡərət/ (MAR-gə-ret); also commonly /ˈmæɡərət/ (MAG-ə-ret)

What is the meaning of the name Margaret ?

The baby name Margaret is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced /ˈmɑːrɡərət/ (MAR-gə-ret); also commonly /ˈmæɡərət/ (MAG-ə-ret).

Margaret is Greek in Origin.

Margaret derives from Greek Margarites, “pearl,” adopted into Latin Margarita and brought to medieval Europe through Old French Marguerite; from there it settled in English as Margaret. The meaning long linked the name with purity and preciousness, and in French the word marguerite also names the daisy, which helped foster the English pet-name Daisy. Cognates include Margarita (Spanish, Russian), Marguerite/Margot/Margo (French), Margherita (Italian), Margareta (Scandinavian, Slavic), Mairead/Maighréad (Scottish and Irish Gaelic), and Marged (Welsh).

Use surged in medieval Christendom via the cult of Saint Margaret of Antioch and many royal bearers, such as Margaret of Anjou, Margaret of Scotland, and Margaret Tudor. It remained a staple in Britain and the U.S., peaking in the early 1900s and retaining classic status. Diminutives span Maggie, Meg, Peg/Peggy (via rhyming shift), Maisie, Greta, Gretel, and Rita.

Margaret has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Margaret

Margaret Thatcher Politician · Born 1925 · United Kingdom Margaret Thatcher, often called the 'Iron Lady', was the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, serving from 1979 to 1990. She is most famous for her strong conservative policies and leadership during the Cold War era. Her tenure included significant economic reforms and a decisive victory in the Falklands War. Margaret Tudor Politician · Born 1489 · Kingdom of England Margaret Tudor was best known as Queen of Scotland through her marriage to James IV. After his death, she served as regent for their young son, James V, and fought to keep political control during his minority. Margaret of Anjou Politician · Born 1430 · Kingdom of France Margaret of Anjou is best known as the queen consort of King Henry VI of England during the Wars of the Roses. Born in 1430, she was Queen of England from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and through her marriage she was also nominally Queen of France from 1445 to 1453.
Margaret, Maid of Norway Royal · Born 1283 · Norway Margaret, known as the Maid of Norway, is most famous for being the queen-designate of Scotland from 1286 until her death. Because she was never inaugurated, historians have long debated whether she should officially be considered a monarch of Scotland. Margaret of Austria, Queen of Spain Politician · Born 1584 · Spain Margaret of Austria is best known as Queen of Spain and Portugal through her marriage to King Philip III of Spain, who was also Philip II of Portugal. Born on 25 December 1584, she was known in German as Margarete and served as queen until her death on 3 October 1611. Margaret Cho Musician · Born 1968 · United States Margaret Cho is best known as an American stand-up comedian, actress, and musician. She is known for her sharp comedy about social and political issues, especially race and sexuality, and for works like the TV series All-American Girl and her stand-up specials I'm the One That I Want and Notorious C.H.O.

Celebrity babies named Margaret

Name Last Name(s) Mother Mother famous for Fame Level Father Father famous for Fame Level
Margaret Qualley Andie MacDowell television actor ★★★★★

Margaret – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
FJ Girls 0 #6 4 583
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
MT Girls 0 #16 222 3,773
HT Girls 0 #23 1 950
BN 0 #29 4 2,297
NA 0 #33 1 2,537
MT 0 #34 10 1,767
MV Girls 0 #35 1 2,021
MO 0 #47 6 2,706
GH Girls 0 #51 1,033 6,973
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CY 0 #56 5 1,632
LU 0 #66 1 2,830
IN 0 #71 1 2,963
JP 0 #76 2 4,057
CY Girls 0 #81 41 3,755
CN 0 #82 5 3,857
PH 0 #86 11 5,607
JM 0 #88 6 3,714
BW Girls 0 #89 61 4,216
BN Girls 0 #90 17 5,459
NG Girls 0 #90 3,673 15,093
TW 0 #91 10 4,523
ID Girls 0 #97 6 3,319
GH 0 #98 181 5,396
QA 0 #102 5 7,011
SD 0 #102 1 2,130
GE Girls 0 #108 1 1,564
SG Girls 0 #109 1,000 18,916
ZA Girls 0 #113 4,715 25,928
Norway Girls 2023 #114 4 467
OM 0 #115 7 6,215
United States Girls 2024 #117 2,303 8,487
KW 0 #119 3 5,216
EE Girls 0 #123 16 1,888
GR 0 #130 6 3,911
Switzerland Girls 2024 #133 3 1,786
IQ 0 #133 1 3,533
MU 0 #133 5 3,613
PA 0 #134 5 3,797
RS Girls 0 #136 2 1,651
JO 0 #139 2 2,158
JM Girls 0 #140 140 7,507
CR 0 #147 12 5,526
PR Girls 0 #147 15 3,171
NA Girls 0 #159 66 7,146
AE 0 #163 15 10,220
NG 0 #165 101 5,926
SG 0 #169 104 11,010
Sweden Girls 2020 #179 2 1,663
MT Boys 0 #179 1 4,064
Canada Girls 2024 #180 108 2,795
UY 0 #180 3 2,477
HR 0 #181 1 2,081
CZ 0 #184 3 3,154
LU Girls 0 #184 7 4,850
RU 0 #188 7 3,641
AR 0 #193 1 2,915
LT Girls 0 #199 2 1,904
MO Girls 0 #203 49 7,056
PL 0 #204 9 2,600
DK 0 #206 1 5,198
HK Girls 0 #212 690 16,104
GR Girls 0 #213 30 6,293
HK 0 #213 147 8,483
HU Girls 0 #213 11 3,308
AO Girls 0 #217 1 4,575
PS 0 #224 3 5,692
AL Girls 0 #226 2 4,141
BG Girls 0 #227 5 3,559
IR 0 #229 3 4,221
JP Girls 0 #233 13 6,592
TW Girls 0 #235 42 8,139
PL Girls 0 #238 127 5,096
BD 0 #240 2 5,992
MY 0 #246 85 12,352
PT 0 #247 4 4,161
ZA 0 #247 205 14,421
EC Girls 0 #255 4 3,650
QA Girls 0 #262 55 15,378
MY Girls 0 #265 1,339 24,821
IL 0 #279 4 6,291
CN Girls 0 #283 67 8,829
HR Girls 0 #286 9 3,687
OM Girls 0 #293 104 15,987
DK Girls 0 #295 22 7,429
PE 0 #299 12 6,350
KZ Girls 0 #301 20 5,862
MU Girls 0 #302 50 8,539
GT 0 #303 12 5,948
PH Girls 0 #306 86 13,098
RU Girls 0 #306 225 11,913
SA 0 #306 7 10,560
JO Girls 0 #307 19 7,570
GH Boys 0 #317 29 8,138
SD Girls 0 #319 27 7,678
CZ Girls 0 #330 12 5,378
CN Boys 0 #331 1 9,639
PL Boys 0 #339 2 6,459
NL 0 #355 37 2,481
BR 0 #359 2 5,969
BD Girls 0 #372 15 8,413
BO 0 #372 10 6,868
CL 0 #376 36 6,867
Finland Girls 0 #377 15 1,368
UY Girls 0 #382 131 6,731
EG 0 #383 18 6,387
CR Girls 0 #389 147 11,342
France Girls 2021 #395 11 3,185
CM Girls 0 #396 147 11,671
YE 0 #397 2 8,639
Austria Girls 0 #398 23 1,885
PH Boys 0 #407 2 11,440
UY Boys 0 #412 2 5,922
PT Girls 0 #416 36 7,952
AE Girls 0 #422 132 20,968
Spain 0 #427 26 2,326
Germany 0 #428 10 2,542
PA Girls 0 #430 52 9,861
KW Girls 0 #434 82 19,177
MX 0 #438 8 8,339
GT Girls 0 #442 64 7,500
CL Girls 0 #464 467 14,098
CO 0 #464 17 7,768
SD Boys 0 #465 2 10,523
IQ Girls 0 #483 22 11,303
PS Girls 0 #486 38 10,981
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
CR Boys 0 #508 3 10,188
BH 0 #514 40 17,937
NL Girls 0 #520 519 5,933
IR Girls 0 #521 10 8,334
RU Boys 0 #523 4 12,621
LY 0 #524 12 12,703
BO Girls 0 #539 73 9,488
CM Boys 0 #540 11 12,054
HK Boys 0 #555 3 12,905
IL Girls 0 #555 63 11,648
Spain Girls 0 #575 460 5,561
AR Girls 0 #581 19 8,289
IN Girls 0 #591 41 13,121
BD Boys 0 #605 1 10,045
PE Girls 0 #619 371 14,861
BO Boys 0 #622 1 9,244
IT 0 #644 71 4,183
LB 0 #649 10 13,263
IT Girls 0 #660 1,158 9,415
CO Girls 0 #669 475 16,140
Finland Girls 2026 #681 58 3,895
SA Girls 0 #690 246 25,931
CL Boys 0 #693 8 13,390
IQ Boys 0 #697 1 13,071
SY 0 #717 12 11,684
SG Boys 0 #734 6 17,960
QA Boys 0 #743 1 18,093
Germany Girls 0 #760 79 4,949
BR Girls 0 #775 168 12,708
BR Boys 0 #785 1 12,213
KW Boys 0 #804 3 18,755
MX Girls 0 #838 369 17,781
EG Girls 0 #854 106 14,742
TN 0 #862 4 13,765
United States Boys 2012 #881 6 7,390
NG Boys 0 #915 37 16,906
OM Boys 0 #915 4 17,948
PE Boys 0 #923 4 14,506
EG Boys 0 #925 1 15,035
CO Boys 0 #976 6 15,656
MX Boys 0 #1,028 6 16,355
ZA Boys 0 #1,096 83 25,619
MA 0 #1,113 16 20,986
AE Boys 0 #1,143 1 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,177 6 25,439
TR 0 #1,180 32 19,440
DZ 0 #1,228 7 20,130
SA Boys 0 #1,603 12 28,008

Margaret is popular in 89 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Ireland
Norway
Scotland, United Kingdom
Canada

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People also ask about Margaret

Margaret is predominantly a girl's name.
Margaret is a 3 syllable name, pronounced /ˈmɑːrɡərət/ (MAR-gə-ret); also commonly /ˈmæɡərət/ (MAG-ə-ret).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Maggie, Meg, Meggie, Marge, Margo and Margot.
Across languages, Margaret has these equivalents: 'equivalent': 'Маргарита (Margarita), 'equivalent': 'Μαργαρίτα (Margaríta).
Yes, very popular — Margaret ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 9 countries.
Margaret ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Margaret's popularity is holding steady. It moved from #1 in 2015 to #1 in 2025 in Ireland.
Yes — 7 notable people named Margaret are in our database, including Margaret Thatcher (Politician), Margaret Tudor (Politician), Margaret of Anjou (Politician).
Yes — at least 1 celebrity couple has chosen Margaret for their child, including Andie MacDowell.