Margaret Name Meaning, Origin and Pronunciation

ByNamelyra Editorial Team

Margaret is a Greek-origin girl’s name meaning “pearl.”
Meaning pearl
Origin Greek
Pronunciation MAR-gret
Gender Girl
Related forms Margarita, Marguerite (French form), Greta, Maggie, Meg, Peggy (nicknames)

Origin and history

Margaret comes directly from the Greek word for pearl, margarites, and spread widely across Europe through Christian usage, developing distinct national forms in nearly every major language: Marguerite in French, Margarita in Spanish and Italian, and Margarethe in German. It has been carried by numerous historical queens and saints, contributing to its long, stable use across centuries.

Is Margaret a boy or girl name?

Margaret is used almost exclusively as a girl’s name.

Nicknames for Margaret

  • Maggie
  • Meg
  • Peggy (a less obvious nickname, developed through a longer historical chain of sound shifts)
  • Greta

Names similar to Margaret

  • Marguerite (French form)
  • Margarita (Spanish/Italian form)

Frequently asked questions

Why is Peggy a nickname for Margaret when the names don’t sound related?

This developed through a chain of historical nickname shifts, Margaret to Meg to Peg to Peggy, each step being a small, once-common sound shift rather than an obvious modern connection.

Is Margaret still a commonly given name today?

It remains steadily used, though it’s more associated with a classic, older-generation style than current trend-driven naming.

Related reading

Parent hub: name meanings.