Meaning
Usage
Pronunciation
Famous
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For anyone who says this is an old lady name, I would much rather be named Margaret than any crazy modern name with no history. It’s a pretty name, a “pearl” is a nice meaning.
Royal type of English name.👑🏰.
Wonderful name! It is refreshing in a world of little kids named Kinsley, Emersyn, Jaxtyn, etc.
Margaret is the name of a Velvet Room attendant, one who nurtures the growth of the game's protagonist, from the Persona video game series. Most notably she appears in Persona 4 and its spin-offs. She is actually also named after Margaret Walton Saville from Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein".
This is my name and I honestly think it's really pretty. I love the amount of nicknames it comes with as well! Also, my middle name is Rose, and I personally think that it flows well with my first name.
I just wanted to add that I really love this name in full-form, without a nickname. Don’t get me wrong, I think that nicknames are cool; however, Margaret is so melodic! The only nicknames I especially like are Margie (which, I actually prefer as a full name) and Meg; the others just aren’t my cup of tea. Well, I do love Maggie, but my brother’s dog is named that…it could get confusing for her, if I ever had a daughter named Maggie, lmao.
Margaret 'Maggie' Aderin-Pocock (née Aderin), MBE, is a British space scientist and science educator. She is an honorary research associate of University College London's Department of Physics and Astronomy, and has been the chancellor of the University of Leicester since February 2023. Since February 2014, she has co-presented the long-running astronomy television programme The Sky at Night with Chris Lintott. In 2020 she was awarded the Institute of Physics William Thomson, Lord Kelvin Medal and Prize for her public engagement in physics. She is the first black woman to win a gold medal in the Physics News Award and she served as the president of the British Science Association from 2021 to 2022.
Margaret Busby, CBE, Hon. FRSL, also known as Nana Akua Ackon, is a Ghanaian-born publisher, editor, writer and broadcaster, resident in the UK. She was Britain's youngest and first black female book publisher when she and Clive Allison (1944–2011) co-founded the London-based publishing house Allison and Busby (A & B) in the 1960s. She edited the anthology Daughters of Africa (1992), and its 2019 follow-up New Daughters of Africa. She is a recipient of the Benson Medal from the Royal Society of Literature. In 2020 she was voted one of the "100 Great Black Britons". In 2021, she was honoured with the London Book Fair Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Busby was named as president of English PEN.
Such a pretty name. Maggie or Peggy are cute nicknames for a little kid, Margo, Meg, Mary, or Greta can work for a teen, and Rita or even just Margaret sound professional for a lady. Overall a great, super versatile name.
Margaret White is the insane, devoutly Christian mother of the titular character in “Carrie” by Stephen King.
Margaret S. Collins (1922 – 1996) was an African-American child prodigy, entomologist (zoologist) specializing in the study of termites, and a civil rights advocate. Collins was nicknamed the "Termite Lady" because of her extensive research on termites. Together with David Nickle, Collins identified a new species of termite called Neotermes luykxi. When Collins earned her PhD., she became the first African American female entomologist and the third African American female zoologist.
A beautiful, versatile classic. I love it!
Margaret "Peggy" Fairbairn-Dunlop, CNZM, is a Samoan-New Zealand academic. She is the first person in New Zealand to hold a chair in Pacific studies.
Margaret is a really pretty, under-appreciated name.
Nice meaning, but I wouldn't recommend this as a child's name. Just sounds out of place. The nickname Maggie isn't much better.
Also Norwegian: https://www.nordicnames.de/wiki/Margaret
I think this is such a pretty name. For someone old or young it's just so pretty!
I love the name Margaret the meaning is pretty, meaning pearl and the history of the name is fascinating, however I think the main reason I love this name so much is because St. Margaret is depicted in medieval arts with dragons and I love dragons so this name is high up for me. The nicknames for Margaret are kind of hit and miss for me, I like most of the nicknames for it I just like some more than others or prefer the whole name Margaret to certain shortened names. All in all a great strong beautiful name.
My full first name is Margaret, and to be honest I am not a fan. I appreciate that my mom wanted me to have a name with mature vibes that would be taken seriously no matter what profession I chose, but I think it crosses the line between beautifully timeless (Elizabeth, Emma, Annie, Alice, etc.) and old-fashioned (along with names like Edna). Most of the feedback I’ve gotten about my name has been negative during both my youth and adulthood (told it’s ugly or an old lady name, had it mocked in an exaggerated stuffy accent, given condolences by a fellow Margaret who instead went by her middle name, etc.) To me, one redeeming quality is that its age and place in history give it more weight and interest than many new, trendy names that may be completely bland, dated, and charmless in a few decades. Margaret may not have the most feminine flair, glamour, or delicate beauty. Still, it does have many impressive namesakes over the last millennium and a solid place in the canon of classic female names. I also acknowledge that it’s better than overly cutesy names that sound sweet on children but odd and silly on adults, and that it has a ton of nicknames ranging from sophisticated (Margot) to sweet and rustic (Maggie) to tomboyish (Garrett) and beyond.Despite the qualities I like about it, I’m still planning to change my first name to something I feel I can inhabit with greater aplomb.
"I’ve been discriminated against because I am a woman, because I am Black, because I am poor, because I am fat, because I am left-handed."With these words, in August 1976, Margaret Wright accepted the 1976 presidential nomination of the People’s Party. A grandmother in her 50s, she was a Black Panther affiliate who declared capitalism a "total failure" and promised, if elected, to turn the US into a socialist country. Margaret Wright was the third Black woman to seek the presidency. (The People's Party was a consortium of local political parties with leftist/socialist leanings. Among its affiliates was Michigan's Human Rights Party, which had been the political affiliation of Kathy Kozachenko, the first openly LGBTQIA+ elected official in the United States.)Wright is a hidden figure of American politics. Her Wikipedia page is just a paragraph long. Her death in 1996 received no media attention. The longest article written about her to date only found her death date by searching on Ancestry.com.Wright's vice-presidential choice is much better remembered. Dr. Benjamin Spock had been the People's Party's presidential nominee in 1972, but he had been a national figure far before that. An Olympic gold medalist (rowing, 1924), he had become popular culture's leading pediatrician in the 1940s. His parenting books sold tens of millions of copies. (I first encountered his name in a Beverly Cleary book.) Spock was also a political activist. He had been pressed to run for vice president on a Martin Luther King Jr./Benjamin Spock ticket in 1968. He had toplined the People's Party ticket in 1972.Yet in 1976, Spock was number two to Wright. He declared, "I will not be uppity. I will do any job Margaret wants me to do, even if only to preside over the Senate."The Wright/Spock ticket only appeared on ballots in six states, and they only received 49,016 votes (0.06% of the vote). Yet Wright’s story deserves to be remembered.A community organizer in Los Angeles, Wright spent much of her life as a political activist.Born around Tulsa, Oklahoma somewhere between 1921-1923, Wright was a daughter of the Great Depression. Wright was put to work as a "kitchen mechanic" very early.She left domestic work to become a "Rosie the Riveter." She was one of the thousands of women who joined the workforce as laborers in factories and shipyards during World War II. Though most "Rosies" are remembered as white women, some 10-20% of these Rosie jobs were filled by Black women. Wright worked for Lockheed, where she embraced being a part of a union. She continued her union activism after the war.Wright mourned the loss of World War II in a way, because it meant a return to the poverty-stricken challenges she experienced before. She struggled to find work, and ended up returning to domestic work.But the community activism spirit remained.Over the next several decades, Wright became incredibly active in Los Angeles-area activism, specifically in LA's Watts section. She founded Women Against Racism (WAR) and the United Parents Council of Watts. In 1967, while serving as the Black Panther Party’s Minister of Education, Wright organized a rally with 200 other activists, demanding changes to the largely white administration at Manual Arts, a predominantly black high school. The rally culminated in a march to the school administration’s office, and when Wright refused to leave, the police dragged her from the building and arrested her. Wright was arrested again in 1968 for protests at San Fernando Valley State College.By the 1970s, Wright had moved from civil disobedience to formal politics. She ran for a seat on the LA school board, and was an active presence at LA city council meetings. Wright also lashed out at both the chauvinism of the Black civil rights leaders and the racism within the white feminist movement. By 1976, Wright was convinced that a socialist revolution was the only way to fix what ailed America. She said, "You know, when people hear the word socialism, they think of someone else’s socialism — what we need is a socialism that fits America."Concurrent to her political activism, Wright worked as an educator. She managed a daycare and worked as a lecturer at the University of Southern California.As previously mentioned, Wright and Spock only appeared on ballots in six states, and they only received 49,016 votes (0.06% of the vote).After the election, Wright's life is hard to piece together. She appeared in a 1980 documentary, "The Life and Times of Rosie the Riveter" and showed up occasional in Los Angeles newspapers. But the nature of her life is almost entirely unknown.Wright died at around age 73/74 in 1996.
Perlita Neilson (born Margaret Sowden; 1933 – 2014) was an English film, stage and television actress. She was educated at the Aida Foster Theatre School. One of her most notable roles was in 1957 as Anne Frank in the London production of The Diary of Anne Frank.
It’s a pretty name. But I hate the nickname Maggie.
Margaret "Dot" DeVries is a character in the book series Sammy Keyes. She is one of Sammy's friends and is of Dutch heritage.
I prefer Margareta, but Margaret is good too. It does sound old-fashioned, and doesn't really suit a young girl, though. I would give it a 6.5/10.
As someone who has the name Margaret, I may be biased, but I like how the name sounds. Many people were saying it's more harsh and less feminine, but I like that about it. It gives the name a sort of strength along with its old-fashioned beauty. I also love how many nicknames there are and how much they differ from one another. For example, Peggy is different from Margo which is different from Greta. There are so many variations and the meaning behind it is beautiful.
Another character who has the name Margaret is Peggy Carter from Captain America, and she has her own show called Agent Carter! I found out that her full name is Margaret Elizabeth Carter and I think it's really cool to have an awesome character with the same name as myself.
My late and beautiful mother was named Margaret Johanne. I miss her every day. I might add Margaret to my name in her memory. I’ll always love this name because of Mom.
My name is Margaret, and I'm not fond of my name, but I don't hate it. I was named after my grandma, and I'm only in middle school. Whenever one teacher calls me Margaret everybody goes "Huh? Who's Margaret?" To be completely honest, I'm embarrassed by it.
Margaret is an okay name that does, I suppose, appeal to those who might appreciate the classics.
It looks fine written down but I must honestly say that I find the sound quite unattractive and harsh.However, I do kind of like the nickname Meg and I like the "Little Women" character.
Eh- I don't like it, it's really ugly.
Also Judeo-Anglo-Norman.
Source: Seror, Simon "Les noms des femmes juives en Angleterre au Moyen Âge".
Pretty, yet I wouldn't use it.
I have to say that I LOVE the name Margaret. To me it is one of the most beautiful, sophisticated and elegant names in existence. LOVE LOVE LOVE!
I've been a Margaret since 1956 and I love my name. I've yet to meet a Margaret who did not like her name. Sometimes I am called Maggie or Mag, both of which I like, but I am so proud to have been named after my grandmother, and to have been a "pearl" all these years.
I admit that the name is too old-fashioned for me, it is clearly an older woman's name, but I do not see it as ugly or understand the hatred that this name has. I prefer it as a middle name, which goes well with almost any name, and I also adore the nicknames that can be drawn from Margaret, like Maggie, Mairead, Madge, Margarete, Marge, Margie, Margot, Marguerite, Margaretha, Meg, Megan, Rita, Gretchen, and Peggy. If you prefer, you can use the Spanish version, which is Margarita. Whatever you want.
I cannot understand why this beautiful classic name is so derided. In particular, the comments that it is an old woman's name are particularly disappointing, coming as they do from mostly female commenters. Ageist and sexist. Ugh. Is a woman of value only before a certain age, then? For shame. Margaret has many strong and admirable role models, and Meg is so pretty, as in the novel Little Women and poem Meg Merilees. I have known a Margaret Mary and a Mary Margaret, both known as Mimi. Rather a little Margaret than a little Maddison or Nevaeh. She will have the last laugh, as the bearer of an ancient classic name.
Sally Margaret Field is an American actress and director who has been nominated for the Tonys and has won many awards for her supreme acting.
Absolutely beautiful timeless elegant and so many options with this name. From Maggie to Mags Magpie and Mae just absolutely perfect for any girl at any age! This vintage name is also making a comeback as I've been hearing of a couple of babies born the last few months and the given name was Margaret, "Maggie".
Strong name! Margaret has class! Good quality! Not so popular anymore as many years ago. Has history. Why not. Good name.
I think that the name Margaret is very elegant and classic and ages well! It also reminds me of Mary-Margaret from Once Upon a Time, which I love. To top it all off, the nickname options are ADORABLE, especially Maisie and Maggie! In conclusion, I love it!
Margaret Sanger was an amazing woman.
I know this name has mixed opinions but I actually like it very much. I think it is very elegant and classic as well.
Frumpy, with an awkward pronunciation. I really hate it.
Kind of frilly in a way.
I like this name! I understand anyone who says it is a bit harsh sounding, but I find the tough G to be strong, but also cute. It seems like an overall flexible name that seems to work in any situation at any age (child, teen, young adult, etc.). The idea of calling a little Margaret Molly especially tickles me. It has so many other nickname possibilities that are great, like Maggie, Greta, Daisy, Meg, Meggie, etc.
Well, my name is Margaret, I’m a Christian Lebanese young woman. My mom chose my name, she thought of Saint Rita, whose birth name was Margarita. Back then Marguerite was very common in Lebanon, but my mother wanted something different, an English name. I love my name so much.
This name actually makes me think of the word market.
My name is Margaret and I love it. When I was young I was called Maggie but I don't like it so I decided to go by my birth name, Margaret. People often spell my name wrong and sometimes pronounce it wrong but I am still proud to have my name that has been in my family for many many years. I personally would have preferred to be called Peggy, Margarita, or Meg when I was younger. I just don't like the sound of Maggie, it's very bland... a few of my close friends do call Maggie to pick on me but I don't really mind since they do it not that often.
Also occasionally used in Estonia: https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_(eesnimi)
A nice vintage name that should have a comeback. Margaret would sound adorable on a young girl! I really hate the nickname Maggie, though.
My favorite name. It sounds so pleasant to the ears. "Mar-ga-ret" not "Mar-grit" or "Mar-great". My top choice for a little girl.
When I first became a so-called "namenerd," I was vehemently against the "classics" that had endured since the Middle Ages and Renaissance - particularly the feminine names. I thought, "All these myriad names to choose from, and most people still name their daughters the same darn things?" But trends do come and go, and eventually I appreciated classics like Jane, Anna, Mary... heck, for a little while there I was practically in love with the name Elizabeth, nickname "Elle." The classics weren't so bad anymore.But Margaret... that's the one I can't seem to warm up to. No matter how hard I try. It must be that middle hard G - that, and even if you enunciate all three syllables the "garet" part still sounds too much like "grit." I think that's why the French variant Marguerite doesn't bother me nearly so much (or Margot, for that matter). And the most common nickname for Margaret, Maggie, makes me think of... well, shaggy dogs. Like a Bearded Collie. If I had no choice but to use the name Margaret then I'd try to push for the Greta nickname over Maggie (which is still better than Midge, which is still better than Peggy).
My great grandmother's name is Margaret and I think the name is very pretty and feminine. I was thinking about using it as a middle name for my little girl. I understand a child or teenager may not like it as a first name, but that's why I figured it could work as a middle name.
This is my given name and I hate it. Other people I know also hate it. When I met my friend, she said my name was weird. After a month, we discussed my name and she said "I thought your name was weird but now I've gotten used to it, I guess." I go by Maggie, but sometimes people call me Margaret as a joke. I can't wait to legally change my name when I grow up to something less ugly. Nobody likes my name and I am angry at my parents for choosing it. They gave my little sister a nice name - 'Lillian', and she gets to go by 'Lily'. :(
It’s nice, but I definitely prefer the various forms of this name like Megan or Peggy, Rita etc.
Margaret Thompson (Trinidad, Colorado, 26 October 1889 - Los Angeles, California, 26 December 1969) was a 1910s silent actress whose career only lasted five years (1913 to 1918, when she retired).
The Sanskrit is just a cognate of the loanword. [noted -ed] This is more plausibly some Iranian word (there were many Iranian languages to choose from, not all well-recorded), c.f. Sogdian margārt, modern Persian marvārīd. The old Persian etymologies given below seem dubious, and do not explain the Sanskrit cognate which would be at least as old as Old Persian. Note that the Syriac plural marɡɑnjɑthɑ (descended from Aramaic, the lingua-franca of much of the Persian empire) resembles the Sogdian (an Iranian language from Central Asia).
No idea why some people like this name, I find it harsh and snooty sounding.
I like this name even though it is old. It sounds very feminine to me.
They forgot "Muggy Maggie" the children's book!
My name is Margaret thoo... but people call me Margareta, Margreat... there are always mistakes but kinda proud to know my name is Margaret. Thanks to my mom.
Very beautiful, makes me think of a field of small flowers blooming on a mountainside on a sunny day. It would be good for a little girl, or a kind, honorable queen, or a happy young woman. It is a name that is deeply peaceful and joyful, and outwardly exuberant, and very rare: I never met a Margaret.
Margaret backwards is teragram, which is some sort of mathematical term!
My name is Maggie. No Margaret. Maggie is actually a good name, and I hate it whenever people mistake it as Margaret. I tell you that it's Maggie, so it's Maggie...
Margaret Smith is a character in Regular Show. She is a friend of Eileen, and Mordecai's love interest throughout the first half of the show.She was voiced by Janie Haddid-Thompkins.
I absolutely hate this name. My name is Margaret and I hate it. I go by Maggie since it's a way better name. Please name your child Maggie if you're considering Margaret.
The nicknames Daisy and Pearl are sort of irrelevant, even though they make sense with the meaning in Greek (pearl) and Russian (daisy), and are both prettier than the actual name, since Margaret is generally harsh sounding, although not a terrible name in itself. Just not that pretty.
Margaret is kind of an old lady name if you ask me, but the nicknames are cute. I think you should stop naming your poor kids Margaret though.
Super boring and overused. So is the nickname Maggie. Come on people, with all the thousands (if not millions) of possible names out there, THIS tired old name is the best you can come up with?!? It's right up there with Mary and Karen at the top of the "dull names" list.
In 2018, 63 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Margaret who is registered female with the Social Security Administration. It is the 55th most common female first name for living U.S. citizens.
Margaret, Marchioness of Namur (1194–1270) was ruling Marchioness of Namur after the death of her brother Henry II, Marquis of Namur. She was the daughter of Peter II of Courtenay and Yolanda of Flanders.
Dear Margaret... I think of the book Lol.
I don't really like this name. It sounds too boring and uninteresting. I prefer Maggie.
This is a nice name, if not my favourite, but what I really love is all the nicknames: Maggie, Meg, Molly, Maisie, Greta, Peggy, Daisy, Pearl… it goes on and on. I don't think I'd name a daughter Margaret (if I have a daughter one day) but I might use it as a middle name and maybe take a nickname from there. P.S. It doesn't sound like 'marmite' and anyway, I love marmite. :)
This is my grandma’s name. She goes by Maggie and is a bit of a nerdy cat lady but don’t let that fool you, my grandma can be a total badass at times. In the 70s she stole an ashtray from the Eiffel Tower and at the age of 69 had to go to traffic school for speeding... lol, okay but seriously she’s super smart and isn’t shy to speak her mind or correct people when they're wrong or tell them off when they’re being rude. She’s a pretty awesome lady. If I ever have a daughter one day, I’d probably name her Margaret after my grandma, but I’d use the nickname Maisie (because it’s adorable).
Princess Margaret of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria by her son Prince Arthur. Margaret was also Crown Princess of Sweden as the first wife of the future King Gustaf VI Adolf.
The name Margaret is generally pronounced as MAHR-grət in British English, rather than either of the pronunciations listed here.
Love Margaret Thatcher, one of the best leaders of all time in my opinion and doesn't ruin my associations with this name. I love it and it comes with great nicknames such as Meg, Maggie, Greta, Daisy and maybe even pulling Rita off for something more exotic.
Margaret Thatcher ruined this name, but I did know a little Margaret and it wasn't too bad. However, this name reminds me of MAGA... which ruins it for good.
I cannot believe no one has mentioned Margaret Gorman, the very first Miss America! She won in 1921.
I really like this name. If I were to have a child, if it was a girl most likely she would be named Margaret. Maybe with a middle name like Patricia or June.
Interesting that the comments from 12 years ago are more heavily critical; responses seem to be more positive on average as you get to more recent comments. Sound bias in names goes through trends and we've been in a very "vowel happy" period for a while (lots of "Evie's," "Ella's," "Abby's," "Ava's," sort of names). Perhaps stronger consonant sounds are starting to be a little refreshing. I've heard a lot more baby names that seem to hint at that--parents around me have chosen: Gus, Gretchen (x2), Gwendolyn, Agnes, Dolores (although goes by Lola), Magnolia, Dorothy, Arthur and Ruth. My daughter is a six year old (well, almost six) and named Margaret. And called Margaret in full. No one seems bothered by this; if anything, they're usually pleasantly surprised and appreciative because so many people have a beloved grandmother that was Margaret! It seems to "fit" her and her youth just fine, and frankly, these days in a classroom filled with "Axel" and "Pantera" (yes, these are actual names in her class!) 'unusual' is the new norm as far as her contemporaries go. We chose it to honor our own grandmothers that we loved dearly, but we also liked it because:
- it's classic, but not overused these days
- it ages well and won't be an issue professionally
- there's a ton of nicknames that she could choose from if she decides she wants to express her identity differently
- it has a fascinating, cool historySo, yeah--I'm obviously Team Margaret! Not a name for everyone (no name is), but I still think it's a solid choice. If you're thinking about it but can't picture it on a little kid, I'm here to tell you that my little one has it and it complements her well.
Kind of rough sounding.
Margaret Atwood (b. 1939) is a Canadian novelist best known for the remarkably prescient book "The Handmaid's Tale" who won the Booker prize for "The Blind Assassin."
It's my name- I've always hated it because it's outdated. I tried to look for better ways to call it but then I thought I should call myself Kushie for some reason. I prefer to be called Pearl rather than Maggie. I don't understand what is written about Pearl in Revolutions in the bible, so I just don't like it.
Margaret Constance "Maisie" Williams is an English actress. She made her professional acting debut as Arya Stark in the HBO fantasy television series Game of Thrones in 2011, for which she won the EWwy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama, the Portal Award for Best Supporting Actress – Television and Best Young Actor, and the Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor. In 2016, she was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Margaret Moran Cho is an American stand-up comedian, actress, fashion designer, author, and singer-songwriter. Cho is best known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiqued social and political problems, especially regarding race and sexuality. She has created music videos and has her own clothing line of crotchless underwear for men and women. Cho has also frequently supported LGBT rights and has won awards for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asians, and the LGBT community.
I think that this is a fine, strong name, even today. It reminds me of someone who's down to earth, yet classy at the same time. I think the diminutive Maggie has a sort of timeless sound to it as well.
Margaret Gardiner is a South African journalist and beauty queen who the winner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant in 1978. She is the second African woman to win the Miss Universe title. She was 18 years old when she won the pageant. After the 3 semi-final competitions, she entered the 5 finalists in 4th place, but ended up winning the pageant after answering the final question.
This name gives me the impression of someone who is smart, serious and no-nonsense, but I still kind of like it. It's classic, feminine, not too fluffy, and the nicknames are all cute.
My ten year old sister is named Margarette (pronounced like Margaret), and she, like what people in the comments are suggesting, is cold and a bit of a brat.
My name is Margaret Ann, and I love it. I never considered it unusual or cold. In fact, there were 2 other Margaret's in one of my high school classes; although they also went by Peggy. I never had any nicknames as I was named after my grandmothers. I consider it a classic name.
Margret like the name Sylvia is nice and special (Considering how underused it is today!) who couldn't love it? An absolute lovely person would bear this name.
I love this name. I also like Maggie. I named the mother of one of the main characters in my comic Margaret. Oh, and Mrs. Thatcher hasn't tainted this name for me.
This name sounds way too harsh to me; it's not very pleasing to the ears at all. I don't like any of the nicknames either, and I find it to be rather boring.
In Judy Blume's book "Are you there God? Its me, Margaret" the girl's name is Margaret.
My lovely Mum has this name. She hates it but I really like it. I think it is a beautiful sounding name. Unusual on young girls today, which is a shame.
Margaret Avery is an American actress.
I'm a teenager and my name is Margaret Mary but I go by Meg. I prefer going by Meg because you could not believe how many people do not know how to spell Margaret! I always get "Margret"! I like my name because it is so classic and strong. I love having a unique name compared to all of the Hannah's, Morgan's, and Abby's that go to my school. Only downside of going by Meg is that people think my real name is "Megan" and I cannot stand that name because Margaret is just so much more beautiful.
I love having this name! I had no idea people hated it so much. When I was little, it annoyed me that people got my mother's and my name confused, but I thought it was because my name was long and hers was short. So people thought the little person should have the short name, I thought. As a teenager my father gave me a pearl necklace and matching bracelet, and I fell in love with pearls. Later I learned my name means pearl! And it so happened that people used to call my father "Earl the Pearl". As a business woman in my early 20's, I found that my phone presence worked well for me and people thought I was much older. As a middle aged person, I feel I've finally "grown into" my name. Never in my life have I accepted any nickname because nothing else ever fit. Bottom line, it's what you make of it. I feel lucky.
My mother named me Margaret Pearl. She had no idea Margaret meant "pearl". I love it- I'm a pearl pearl! Highly valuable. :-)
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian writer best known for The Handmaid's Tale.
Margaret is a stunning, vintage name. It's very feminine and cute, plus the meaning is great! It's a real classic! ^_^
Margaret Brooke Sullavan (Born: May 16, 1909, Died: January 1, 1960) was an American stage and film actress.
Margaret White is Carrie's mother in Stephen King's 1974 novel Carrie.
I find this name really ugly. For some reason, it reminds me of toxic black paint.
Margaret is a character in Regular Show.
Really classy and beautiful name. I can understand people who say that it doesn't suit little girls, but 'Meg' is a cute nickname to use while she's little, and it's much better than giving her one of those silly, childish names people stick their kids with today!
Of course it doesn't sound right on a six year old, but at least it will suit her when she's older rather than the other way around. There are so many children with names that will not suit then when they're older; Margaret would be quite refreshing to hear. When she's little, you can just call her Maggie, Madge, Mae, etc. :)
This is a nice name, however it sounds too elderly. I can only picture a 50 year old lady. I just can't picture a 6 year old with it.
I think this is a pretty name! I would honestly name one of my kids this, since I like classic names and can't stand trendy names. I pronounce it mar-gret, not mar-grit. I also like the nickname Maggie :)
My name is Margaret. I used to despise my name because it is uncommon. Now, I've learned to love the unique name Margaret for a three reasons. First, it derives from royal families. Second, just saying: "Mar-ga-ret" sounds strong and powerful. Last but not least, you can't spell Margaret without great!
I used to hate my name growing up. I never thought it was very feminine compared to the countless Sarahs Brittanys and Jessicas in my classes. Now I absolutely LOVE it. It's rare, classy and memorable. I once had someone tell me they felt that my name was nostalgic and pretty; they were reminded of a young girl in the 60s reading a book on a park bench. Also, for practical reasons, it ages well and looks good on a resume.
Margaret is my middle name. I personally dislike the name. I asked my mom why I had this as a middle name. She told me it was a name of a relative of hers. As much as she wants me to keep it, when I turn 18, I want to get rid of Margaret altogether.
Margaret (1598-1600) was the daughter of King James I of the UK and his wife Anne of Denmark.
Margaret was the name of one of the daughters of King Edward III of England and his wife Philippa of Hainaut.
Margaret was the sixth daughter of King Edward I of England and his wife Eleanor of Castile.
Margaret (1489-1541) was the oldest daughter of Henry VII of England and his wife Elizabeth. She was the older sister of King Henry VIII of England.
Margaret was one of the daughters of King Edward IV of England and his wife Elizabeth Woodville. She died young.
Margaret of England (1240-1275), daughter of King Henry III of England and his wife Eleonore of Provence. She later married the King of Scotland.
Margaret of Austria (1480-1533), only daughter of Maximilian I (Holy Roman Emperor) and Mary of Burgundy. She was the Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands and raised her nephew Charles, who was later Holy Roman Emperor himself.
Margaret Kaine is an English author of books such as 'Ring of Clay' and 'Roses for Rebecca'.
In Alcott's Little Women, Marmee, Meg, and Daisy (Meg's daughter) are all named Margaret. I believe "Marmee" is combination of the words 'mommy' and 'Margaret'.
This is disgusting. I think it is torture when you call a little girl this! Mamaaaarararrargarreet. It reminds me of a 70 year old who is stuck in marmalade...
Margaret Ruth "Maggie" Gyllenhaal is an American actress.
Margaret Clarke (nee Crilley) (1888-1961) was a painter.
Margaret Leroy is a British author who has written books such as 'The Drowning Girl' and 'The Perfect Mother'.
I've never liked this name. It sounds so cold and harsh, and I don't like any of the nicknames that come with it. Maggie, Meg, Gretta, Gretchen (EW!). They're just so unattractive.
Margaret is a classic name. I prefer it as a middle name though - something like Lila Margaret is cute. Maggie is a great nickname though!
This name has quite a regal and dignified feel, but is spoilt by the harsh sound of it.
I love this name! It's not very common and I find it classic and beautiful. It's my sweet, sweet mommy's name too. : )
Margaret Peterson Haddix is a great author who, among other things, wrote The Shadow Children series.I think this a beautiful, timeless name!
I didn't use to like this name, and I think it was because of the annoying little girl in the Dennis the Menace cartoon. (Now I am really showing my age.) But recently the name has really grown on me. I am surprised that its peak of popularity was in the 20's, but I can well imagine it making a big comeback like some other, old fashioned names have. I like the nickname Maggie, and am also fond of some other countries' versions: Margret, Margit, Margriet.
A wonderful name. Margaret is up there with Elizabeth in terms of flexibility.
I prefer Margo.
Margaret is such a strong and classy name. I adore the nickname Maisie.
My name is Margaret Mary (double first name), so I get called Margaret or Mary Margaret a lot by new teachers. I think that by itself Margaret can seem a little cold or even snobbish (although my opinion might be biased thanks to the "Dennis the Menace" character), but when you add a shorter name to it - like Mary, Alice, or Rose - it becomes a warm and beautiful name.
I also love several of the nicknames for Margaret. The one I use is Maggie (or any derivative of Maggie), but I love Maisie, Molly, Greta, and Gretel as well. I also know that Kittie makes a cute nickname for a young Margaret (I tried that name out once).
I'm not too sure about Peggy or Margie, though. My grandmother (another Margaret) goes by Peggy, and the name just never grew on me.
Margaret Whiting (born July 22, 1924, Detroit, Michigan) is a singer of American popular music who first made her reputation during the 1940s and 1950s.
I find Margaret to be a "classic", yet so much more interesting than Elizabeth or Katherine. I think it sounds better with three syllables, with the last two somewhat slurred together. And I think it's funny that someone above called Margaret "boring" and "overused", then proceeded to recommend Megan, which is one of the most boring and overused names nowadays. Funny how people's opinions on names differ so much.
It's a great name, and it shouldn't be put down so much just because its old fashioned. Sure, it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, but its still a pretty name with tons of history. That's pretty hard to say about most of the names popular nowadays. I agree with the comment that said its like Katherine and Elizabeth; it's a classic name that should never go out of style. I'm considering Margaret Olive, with the nickname Molly :)
My name is Amber Margaret. I love the combination. It's quite interesting and I've never met anyone with this pairing.
Bertha Margaret was my grandmother's name. And she hated the name Bertha, so as a little girl she began going by Margaret. I have to agree with my grandmother, Margaret is much more beautiful sounding than Bertha!
I agree with others that it's an old-fashioned name but definitely has potential as a first name.
I have a deep fondness for this name, I'll admit. It's largely based on the use of it on the Decemberists' album "The Hazards of Love." Whenever I hear this name, I imagine the Margaret from the album. She's a young woman who helps an injured fawn, only to discover he's a shape-shifter. They fall in love, which angers his adoptive mother, the Queen of the forest. Her songs, sung by Becky Stark, are gorgeous, especially "Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)."
A famous bearer is comedian Margaret Cho.
I had never liked this name until I learned about the St. Margaret who escaped from the dragon (which I know wasn't a true story in the first place, but still, I find that really inspiring!), and I've loved the name ever since.
Maggie is a cute nickname, though I don't like Peggy all that much (no offense to anyone with the name).
This is my middle name and I like it, it's old fashioned like my first name. Didn't like it at first but it grew on me.
Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan on M*A*S*H also has this name.
This name, I believe, might have also originated in France.
Margaret is not borrowed from Sanskrit, how and why could it have been? It has a known etymology in Old Iranian margha-writha, meaning Pearl. Naturally, since the Persian Gulf was the main source of Pearls up to quite recent times, it would make sense that the name was in an Iranian language too. The Old Iranian itself probably came from margha- "bird" (c.f. Persian morgh) and -writh which is a suffix denoting similarity, together meaning "bird-like" which most likely referred to the shape of the shell, being similar to wings of a bird.
I hate to be mean or anything, and no offense to anyone with this name, but this name, in my opinion, is just bad. It reminds me of some old grandmother/great aunt that smokes and is just plain crabby sounding. "MAHGRIT! You in for bingo tahnight?"
Margaret is my name. I used to go by the name Maggie but as I've gotten older I just go by the name Margaret. I like it because it's feminine without being prissy or girly. Also, it's a well-known name without being overly popular or anything. But, I've been called many nicknames in my elementary school years, from Marge to Margarita. But to me, Margaret is fine without nicknames!
Gretchen, Magali (mah-gə-LEE), Margaux/Margo/Margot, Marguerite, Megan/Meghan. So many wonderful alternatives to this overused (and often boring-sounding) name.
You don't pronounce this name "mahr-GRIT". You pronounce it "mahr-ga-RIT", but blending the "mahr" and the "ga".
I really do like the name Margaret, which is good seeing as it is my name. But I do believe that, in this day and age, it is becoming a bit less used. I guess I just want to warn people who think that some of the nicknames are rather neat that, while you will understand nicknames such as Meg and Maggie, other people just don't get it. Why so? Because of the emergence of the name Megan and Meghan into popular name culture. I must say that, as a child in second grade, being called Megan for the first half of the year was not a plesant experiance. >: So if you want to name your child Margaret and then encourage them / call them by a nickname someone could make to fit Meghan, you should be prepared for people believing that your child's real name is Meghan. Not really a bit issue, but I just thought I would warn people about how annoying it is to correct every adult you meet. But I guess this is more to do with the nicknames. ^^' Well, I've said my piece.
It's either
MARR-GRET
or
MARR-GRIT
Neither are all that flattering or pretty.
I personally think I like Meg better.
It's a regal and historic name with numerous famous bearers - Margaret of Anjou, English actress Dame Margaret Tyzack, Margaret Thatcher.
My name is Margaret, and I am a teen so I kinda think it's old-fashioned, but my friends think it's a really nice name. And some of my older relatives have that name; so I am proud to have it!
I don't really like this name. When my dad found out that my name (Megan) is a short form of Margaret, he'd always sing at me that old Ray Stevens song, "It's me again, Margaret. Are you naked?" Ugh.
In Japan, daisies are called Margarets.
This is a gentle old name, like Eleanor, but I was surprised that Laura Wattenberg, author of "The Baby Name Wizard", described it as "timeless".
I like how versatile Margaret is when it comes to nicknames. Basically, anything can be a nickname. The vast variety means that you will always be able to find a nickname that fits regardless of personality or stage in life. My two favorites are Margot and Rita.
Twin sisters, Mary (16 ounces) and Margaret (19 ounces), are born to Mrs. Florence Stimson of Old Fletton, Great Britain. They are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as lightest twins.
I have recently fallen in love with this name but as a previous user said it is hard to imagine a young person with this name.
I don't like this name. I simply don't like the sound of it, and it sounds quite old-fashioned. I can't really imagine anyone under the age of 35 going by Margaret. I also associate this name with Margaret Thatcher, and I'm not much of a fan.
Also used in Ireland.
I adore this name and all of the nicknames, too.
I love Margaret! It's classic, strong, feminine - everything I could ask for in a girl's name. We're considering it for our next girl. I almost wish it were my name. :)
Adding to the other Margarets in the comments, it is my name too. My sister tried to use Meg as a nickname for me growing up, but it never stuck. In high school, I adopted the nickname Margie (pronounced Mar-Gee, NOT Mar-Jee). I always quickly corrected people who said Mar-Jee. It reminded me too much of Margarine. In elementary school, I really didn't like it. But now I am grown, I really love my name. I only go by Margaret. My only pet peeve is that people ALWAYS seem to misspell my name. I learned how to spell my name by spelling it out in the 3 syllables. Mar-gar-et.
This name is growing on me. Of the three classic English standards with multiple nicknames (the other two being Elizabeth and Catherine/Katherine), it's the least used. I think that's part of why I'm warming up to it. And though I can't stand the more common nicknames for it, I love Greta and Maisie. It definitely has potential as a name for a future daughter of mine.
Another one of my favorite old names. Very soft and feminine.
A nice, classic sort of name. It has a lot of good nickname possibilities, although I hate Peggy.
I like the name Peigi as a shortened version of Margaret. I know six lovely people called Margaret and I don't think it is a cold name at all. I wouldn't call my daughter Margaret though. I prefer Peigi.
One of Uranus' moons is called Margaret.
"Ultimately from Greek margarîtçs, 'pearl,' probably of Iranian origin."From The American Heritage Dictionary, 4th ed., under the entry for "margarite":
The Iranian word was marjan, originally meaning 'pearl,' though the modern word means 'coral'. From A. Mingana, "On the Meaning of the Persian Word for Pearl and Coral." Man, Vol. 25, Mar., 1925 (Mar., 1925), pp. 41-42:
Marjan is also a feminine Iranian name in its own right.
You all are forgetting Margaret Hamilton. Only the best actress of all time.
In the movie The Good Shepherd, Angelina Jolie's character's name was Clover. She later changed it to Margaret.
A possible nickname for Margaret that isn't heard that often is Maisie. It's an old Scottish nickname for Margaret or Mairead.
I think this name is rather interesting, if not the most prettiest name in the world. I really think the nicknames for it (Maggie, Meg, Peggy, etc.) are interesting as well. I like the meaning "Pearl". I wouldn't name my daughter this, though.
I don't think Margaret is a "hard" sounding name! I'll admit that I'm biased (it's my mom's name), but I personally like the sound of it. I don't find it standoffish at all. Names like "Marissa" and "Melissa" sound prissy to me (it's the "iss" sound; I hate it!), but Margaret has always been to me an old-fashioned, down-to-earth sounding name. I also think the nickname Maggie is adorable, but I may be in the minority there.
Margaret Hale is the main character in Elizabeth Gaskell's novel "North and South."
I've thought of this name always as a energetic name.
I'm not saying this is the right way to say it, but some people who live in Maine pronounce Margaret like Mah-grit. Believe me, I know.
I agree there are so many nicknames you can get from Margaret. But some people do pronounce it mar-grit, as someone said they do not. People can pronounce names any way they want. Mar, Grit, Grett, Marg, Marge, Margot, Mags, Maggie, Meg. I think Sara Margaret is a pretty name. Margaret makes a nice middle name. Reminds me of Margot and Marjorie. Or marjoram the spice. Margaret reminds me of Maggie from Growing Pains! And Marg aka Catherine on CSI. Love her!
I love this name. My mom is named this and she's great. I have a friend named Margaret as well. She hated her given name and decided to change it to Margaret. I also love how many nicknames you can get from Margaret. Maggie, Meg, Meggie, Margo, Marlo, Greta, Gretchen, Margot, et cetera, et cetera.
Margaret Peterson Haddix is the writer of the Shadow Children book series.
A main character in Madeline L'Engle's "A Wrinkle in Time" is named Margaret Murray, nicknamed Meg.
Literary: name of the third Dashwood sister in Jane Austen's "Sense & Sensibility." Other common nicknames include Mugs and Muggy.
Pretty as is, don't like most nicknames. Maggie is okay, but Marge? Ew.
Lovely, classic name that reminds me of Meredith.
Being a Margaret myself, I'd just like to point out that funnily enough nobody has every run in fear of my 'grit' sounding name. Furthermore I'm not exactly fond of the name myself, being a teenager I feel it's fairly old fashioned. Having said this everybody more or less knows me as Mags and this is one of the best things about the name, you may not like it but at least there are a considerable number of nicknames! :)
Margaret Sanger was the woman that first stood up for birth control.
I think Margaret is a very pretty and elegant name. I do think it's old-fashioned however, the reason why people tend to think of it as cold I guess (I don't agree with them). I also like the name better when the 'ga-ret'-part is pronounced clearer, so the 'Mar'-part doesn't get all the attention.
I had always thought that Margaret derived from Marguerite, the French word for "daisy."
I adore this name! It's my second name (Norah Margaret is my full name) and I wish it were my only name! What do you mean it sounds like 'Marmite?'
There is always the late Princess Margaret, the Queen's younger sister, as a bearer.
Marlo Thomas, daughter of performer Danny Thomas and actress best known as the star of the late 60s comedy That Girl, was born Margaret Julia Thomas.
Meg Ryan's real name is Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra.
Famous bearer is Ann-Margret, spelled different.
Marg Helgenberger an American actress: CSI, Erin Brockovich, Bad Boys and many many more.
No offense to anyone but I just don't like this name. It just seems so cold and not a nice sounding name.
Margaret "Hot Lips" Houlihan was a character from "M*A*S*H".
In Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, Meg (the eldest sister) is short for Margaret.
Actress Ann Margaret is a famous bearer.
Saint Margaret was one of Joan of Arc's voices. "Spring and Fall," a poem by Gerard Manley Hopkins, begins: "Margaret, are you grieving?"
My name is Mary Margaret. I don't like them together but just Margaret is good. I think Margaret is a very nice classic name. (as in classic I mean like old timey)
"Margaret" is connected to "daisy", "marguerite". That is why "Margaret" could have a nameday on Palm Sunday (the Sunday before Easter) - the day of flowers and willows (the names of the other trees also have a nameday).
I find Margaret a cold, standoffish name. I don't even like the nickname Maggie.
Though the longer version of this name mightn't be the most beautiful, the pet names attached to it are SO wonderful: Greta (as in Garbo), Gretchen (bombshell name if ever there were one), and Meta (the German pet form). Plus, the meaning is so entirely gorgeous: a pearl. How anyone could dislike the name is really beyond me. :)
I think Margaret sounds like marmite. You either love it or hate it, in which case I hate marmite and the name Margaret.
Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister of the UK 1979-1990. She has nickname "The Iron Lady".
Margaret is the name of the eldest daughter in 'The Nanny' played by Nicholle Tom. Margaret has lots of nicknames though, like Maggie, Molly, Madge (which is hideous), Marg, Meg, etc.
The Greek word ìáñãáñéôçò meaning "pearl" itself is a borrowing from the Old Persian marga-reta "bird like", originally refering to the shell which contained the pearl, which resembles the wings of a bird folded over each other! Marga is "bird" (c.f. New Persian morgh "bird") and reta was a relative suffix.See: Ferdinand Justi "Iranisches Namenbuch" and C. Bartholomae "Altiranisches Woerterbuch".
The only information I could find for "marga" was that it was an Indo-Iranian word meaning 'meadow' and a Sanskrit word meaning 'path.' (ie. The margas of Indian philosophy) Don't know if that's useful or not, but there you are. I'd love it if the derivation came from 'bird-like' but I couldn't find any other info about that.
I can't stand the 'grit' sound at the end of this name.
In response to the person who "can't stand the 'grit' at the end of this name," this name is not pronounced "mar-grit." It is pronounced, as this website says, "mar-gret" or "mar-ga-ret."
In response to the person (waaay up there) (and to everyone else) who posted anonymously on 6-26-06 saying that Margaret isn't pronounced with a 'grit' sound I would like to point out- Different parts of the English-speaking world pronounce things differently. I know in our local dialect here in NS, Canada Margaret is pronounced more slurred and turns out Mar-grit. Also, my aunt's name, and I think its a good, strong name. Prefer the spelling Margarate, though. Can't stand the nickname "Peggy", but "Maggie" or "Meg" is really nice.
This is not a hard name. It's my mum's name and you couldn't meet a nicer person than my mum, not one! The name Margaret is also commonly used for many members of the royal family.
A famous person with the name is Margaret Mitchell, who wrote Gone With the Wind.
Another famous bearer of the name is Margaret Cavendish. Not really sure how famous she is, but I had to write about her for histoy class once, so there you go.
1940s child actress Margaret O'Brien is a famous bearer of this name.
In Russian small daisies are known by a name related to the name Margaret.
Margaret is my name and personally I don't like it because it is so rare and has a hard sound to it. It doesn't very femenine to me.
Margaret means also gowan (daisy) in Greek.
Well, I just want to tell you that the original meaning of the name Margaret is "bud".

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