Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning " pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular throughout the Middle Ages. It became less popular between the 16th century and 18th century, but became more common again after this period, becoming the second-most popular female name in the United States in 1903. Since this time, it has become less common, but was still the ninth-most common name for women of all ages in the United States as of the 1990 census. Margaret has many diminutive forms in many different languages, including

Maggie Maggie is a common short form of the name Magdalena, Magnolia, Margaret. Maggie may refer to: People Women * Maggie Adamson, Scottish musician * Maggie Aderin-Pocock (born 1968), British scientist * Maggie Alderson (born 1959), Aust ...

, Madge, Daisy, Margarete,

Marge Marge is a feminine given name, a shortened form of Marjorie, Margot or Margaret (name), Margaret. Notable Marges include: People *Marge (cartoonist) (1904–1993), pen name of Marjorie Henderson Buell, American cartoonist *Marge Anderson (1932� ...

, Margo, Margie,

Marjorie Marjorie is a female given name derived from Margaret, which means pearl. It can also be spelled as Margery or Marjory. Marjorie is a medieval variant of Margery, influenced by the name of the herb marjoram. It came into English from the Old Fre ...

Meg Meg is a feminine given name, often a short form of Megatron, Megan, Megumi (Japanese), etc. It may refer to: People *Meg (singer), a Japanese singer *Meg Cabot (born 1967), American author of romantic and paranormal fiction *Meg Burton Cahill ( ...

Megan Megan is a Welsh feminine given name, originally a diminutive form of Margaret. Margaret is from the Greek μαργαρίτης (''margarítēs''), Latin ''margarīta'', "pearl". Megan is one of the most popular Welsh-language names for women in ...

, Rita,

Greta Greta may refer to: *Greta (given name), including a list of people and characters with the name Places * Greta Bridge, village in County Durham, England * Greta, New South Wales, town in Australia ** Greta railway station ** Greta Army Camp, form ...

, Gretchen, and Peggy.

Name variants

Full name

* ( Irish) * ( Irish) * ( Dutch), ( German), (

Swedish Swedish or ' may refer to: Anything from or related to Sweden, a country in Northern Europe. Or, specifically: * Swedish language, a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Sweden and Finland ** Swedish alphabet, the official alphabet used by ...

) * ( English)

Diminutives

* ( English) * ( English)

First half

* (

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

) * (

Welsh Welsh may refer to: Related to Wales * Welsh, referring or related to Wales * Welsh language, a Brittonic Celtic language spoken in Wales * Welsh people People * Welsh (surname) * Sometimes used as a synonym for the ancient Britons (Celtic peopl ...

)

Second half

* ( English), ( German), ( Italian), (

Lithuanian Lithuanian may refer to: * Lithuanians * Lithuanian language * The country of Lithuania * Grand Duchy of Lithuania * Culture of Lithuania * Lithuanian cuisine * Lithuanian Jews as often called "Lithuanians" (''Lita'im'' or ''Litvaks'') by other Jew ...

), ( Polish), (

), * ( English), ( German), * ( English), (

Estonian Estonian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Estonia, a country in the Baltic region in northern Europe * Estonians, people from Estonia, or of Estonian descent * Estonian language * Estonian cuisine * Estonian culture See also

...

), ( Hungarian), (

...

)

Nobility

Austria

* Margaret, Countess of Tyrol (1318–1369)

Belgium and the Netherlands

* Margaret of Austria, Duchess of Savoy (1480–1530), Princess of Asturias and Duchess of Savoy by her two marriages * Margaret of Parma (1522–1586), illegitimate daughter of Charles V and Johanna Maria van der Gheynst * Margaret of York (1446–1503), Duchess of Burgundy and wife of Charles the Bold, Regent of France

Denmark

Margaret I of Denmark Margaret I ( da, Margrete Valdemarsdatter; March 1353 – 28 October 1412) was ruler of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden (which included Finland) from the late 1380s until her death, and the founder of the Kalmar Union that joined the Scandinavian k ...

(1353–1412) * Margrethe II of Denmark (born 1940)

England and Scotland

Lady Margaret Fortescue Lady Margaret Fortescue (13 December 1923 – 25 May 2013) was a British huntswoman, and one of the country's largest private landowners, including the Castle Hill estate and of Exmoor. Early life Lady Margaret Fortescue was born on 13 Decemb ...

(1923–2013), one of the UK's largest private landowners * Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby, (1443–1509), mother of Henry VII of England and paternal grandmother of King Henry VIII of England * Margaret Douglas (1515–1578), daughter of Margaret Tudor *

Margaret of Anjou Margaret of Anjou (french: link=no, Marguerite; 23 March 1430 – 25 August 1482) was Queen of England and nominally Queen of France by marriage to King Henry VI from 1445 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471. Born in the Duchy of Lorrain ...

(1430–1482), wife of King Henry VI of England * Margaret Pole, born Princess Margaret of York and Clarence (1473–1541), Countess of Salisbury * Margaret Tudor (1489–1541), elder sister of Henry VIII of England and great-grandmother of James I of England * Princess Margaret of Connaught (1882–1920), elder daughter of Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught *

Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth ...

(1930–2002), only sibling of Queen Elizabeth II and the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth *

Saint Margaret of Scotland Saint Margaret of Scotland ( gd, Naomh Maighréad; sco, Saunt Marget, ), also known as Margaret of Wessex, was an English princess and a Scottish queen. Margaret was sometimes called "The Pearl of Scotland". Born in the Kingdom of Hungary to th ...

, (), Queen of Scots

France

* Margaret of France, Duchess of Brabant (1254–1271) *

Margaret of Provence Margaret of Provence (french: Marguerite; 1221 – 20 December 1295) was Queen of France by marriage to King Louis IX. Early life Margaret was born in the spring of 1221 in Forcalquier. She was the eldest of four daughters of Ramon Berenguer IV ...

(1221–1285) * Margaret of Valois (1553–1615) * Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549)

Hungary

* Margaret of Hungary (1175–1223), wife of Isaac II Angelos Byzantine Emperor

Norway

* Margaret of Scotland (Maid of Norway) (1282–1290)

Romania

Margareta of Romania Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania (; born 26 March 1949) is the eldest daughter of King Michael I and Queen Anne of Romania. She assumed her father's duties in March 2016, upon his retirement, and has claimed the headship of the House ...

(born 1949)

Religion

* Margaret Brennan (1831–1887), Canadian nun *

Margaret Sampson Margaret Sampson (5 June 1906 – 14 August 1988) was an English Anglican nun who was Mother Superior of the Community of the Sisters of the Love of God from 1954 to 1973. She was professed as Sister Margaret Clare in 1932 when she was active in ...

(1906–1988), English nun

Canonized

* Margaret Clitherow (1556–1586) *

Margaret the Barefooted Margaret the Barefooted (1325–1395) was born into a poor family in San Severino Marche, San Severino, Italy. She was abused by her husband for years because of her dedication to the church and to helping the poverty, poor and sick. She walked ba ...

(1325–1395) * Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690) * Saint Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) * Saint Margaret of Cortona (1247–1297) * Saint Margaret of England (died 1192) * Saint Margaret of Hungary (1242–1270) *

(1045–1093) * Saint Margaret the Virgin – the oldest and most prominent St. Margaret; also known as Margaret of Antioch ()

Beatified

* Margaret Pole (1473–1541) *

Margaret Ward Margaret Ward (c. 1550-30 August 1588), the "pearl of Tyburn", was an English Roman Catholic Church, Catholic martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I of England, Elizabeth I for assisting a Clergy, priest to escape from prison ...

(1550–1588)

Artists and authors

Maggie Smith Dame Margaret Natalie Smith (born 28 December 1934) is an English actress. With an extensive career on screen and stage beginning in the mid-1950s, Smith has appeared in more than sixty films and seventy plays. She is one of the few performer ...

(born 1934), British actress * Maisie Williams (born 1997), English actress. * Margaret Ashmore Sudduth (1859–1957), American educator, editor, temperance advocate *

Margaret Atwood Margaret Eleanor Atwood (born November 18, 1939) is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, teacher, environmental activist, and inventor. Since 1961, she has published 18 books of poetry, 18 novels, 11 books of non-fiction, nin ...

(born 1939), Canadian novelist and poet * Margaret Avison (1918–2007), Canadian poet *

Margaret Barnard Margaret Helen Barnard (1898–1992) was a painter and linocut maker. Barnard was born in Bengal, where her father was serving with the Indian Police Force. At the age of seven she returned to Britain for her education, and went to Bath High Sc ...

(1898–1992), British painter and linocut maker *

Margaret Barr (choreographer) Margaret is a female first name, derived via French () and Latin () from grc, μαργαρίτης () meaning " pearl". The Greek is borrowed from Persian. Margaret has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular throug ...

(1904–1991), Australian dance-drama choreographer * Margaret Berger (born 1985), Norwegian singer-songwriter * Margaret Bourke-White (1904–1971), American photojournalist *

Margaret Busby Margaret Yvonne Busby, , Hon. FRSL (born 1944), 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 publisherJazzmine Breary"Let' ...

, Ghanaian British publisher and writer * Margaret Cavendish, Duchess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (1623–1673), English writer, poet, and playwright. * Margaret Cho (born 1968), American comedian and actress * Margaret Clark (born 1943), Australian author *

Margaret Clarkson Margaret Clarkson (born August 13, 1941) was born in Rotherham, West Riding of Yorkshire, England and trained as an artist at Rotherham School of Art and Ravensbourne (college)#History, Bromley College of Art. Later she became an art teacher in S ...

, English artist * Margaret Cleaves, American physician, writer *

Margaret Deland Margaret Deland (born Margaretta Wade Campbell; February 23, 1857 – January 13, 1945) was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet. She also wrote an autobiography in two volumes. She generally is considered part of the literary ...

, American author *

Margaret Drabble Dame Margaret Drabble, Lady Holroyd, (born 5 June 1939) is an English biographer, novelist and short story writer. Drabble's books include '' The Millstone'' (1965), which won the following year's John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize, and ''Jer ...

, English author *

Margaret E. Winslow Margaret E. Winslow (1836-1936) was an American activist, newspaper editor, and author of several temperance books. She served at two separate times, and during the longest period of any editor-in-chief of ''Our Union'', the national organ of the W ...

(1836–1936), American activist, editor, author * Margaret Eleanor Parker (1827–1896), American social activist, social reformer, travel writer *

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (pen name, Aunt Marjorie; February 22, 1838 – June 3, 1912) was an American poet, author, and editor. Her poetry was inspired by family and church themes, and included hymns and sacred texts. She worked in several fi ...

(1838–1912), American author, poet, editor * Margaret Forster, British author *

Margaret Frame Margaret Frame (1903 – 1985) was a Canadian painter known for her portraiture. Biography Margaret Frame was born in 1903 in Oxford, Nova Scotia. In 1906 her family moved to Regina, Saskatchewan and there she studied with Inglis Sheldon-Wi ...

(1903–1985), Canadian painter * Margaret Frances Sullivan (1847–1903), Irish-American writer, journalist, editor * Margaret Fuller, American critic * Margaret Gale (born 1930), British operatic soprano * Margaret Harker (1920–2013), British photographer and historian of photography * Margaret Hillis, American conductor * Margaret Hunt Brisbane (1858–1925), American poet * Margaret Lane (1907–1994), British journalist, biographer and novelist * Margaret Larkin (1899–1967), American writer * Margaret Laurence (1926–1987), Canadian novelist * Margaret Leighton (1922–1976), English actress * Margaret Lockwood (1916–1990), British actress * Margaret Manton Merrill, British-American journalist, writer, translator, elocutionist * Margaret Mazzantini (born 1961), Italian-Irish author * Margaret McDonald Bottome (1827-1906), American reformer, organizational founder, author * Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949), American author * Margaret Ogden (born 1952), American fantasy author best known by the pen name Robin Hobb * Margaret Oliphant (1828–1897), Scottish author * Margaret Bloodgood Peeke (1838-1908), American traveler, lecturer, author * Margaret Peterson Haddix (born 1964), American writer * Margaret Randall (born 1936), US writer * Margaret Roper (1505–1544), English writer, translator * Margaret Rutherford (1892–1972), British actress of the stage and screen * Margaret Scobie (born 1948), Australian indigenous Aboriginal painter * Margaret (singer) (born 1991), Polish singer and songwriter * Margaret Tracey (born 1967), American ballet dancer * Margaret Travolta, American actress * Margaret Walker (1915–1998), American author * Margaret Whiting (1924–2011), American popular music and country music singer * Margaret Wise Brown (1910–1952), American author * Margaret Wynne Lawless (1847–1926), American poet, author, educator, philanthropist * Margaret Keane (1927–2022), American painter * Meg Stuart (born 1965), American choreographer, dancer, performing artist

Educators and scientists

* Margaret Haley (1861–1939), American educator, promoted teacher's unions * Margaret Becklake (1922–2018), Canadian academic and epidemiologist * Margaret Burbidge (1919–2020), British astronomer * Margaret Byers (1832–1912), Irish educator, activist, social reformer, missionary, writer * Margaret Mordecai Jones Cruikshank (1878–1955), American educator and college president * Margaret Elisabeth Felix (born 1937), Indian educator * Margaret Floy Washburn (1871–1939), American psychologist * Margaret Frame (biologist), Margaret Frame, Scottish scientist, professor of molecular cell biology * Margaret Gurney (1908–2002), American mathematician, statistician, and computer programmer * Margaret Hamilton (software engineer), Margaret Hamilton, American computer scientist * Margaret Howe Lovatt, naturalist * Margaret Hutchinson, English educator, naturalist and author * Margaret Lin Xavier (1898–1932), Thai physician * Margaret Mead, American anthropologist * Margaret Read (anthropologist), Margaret Helen Read (1889–1991), British social anthropologist and academic * Margaret Warner Morley (1858–1923), American biologist, wrote children's books on biology * Margaret Wiecek, Polish-American operations researcher

Politics

* Margaret A. Davidson (1950–2017), American lawyer and coastal science pioneer * Ann Coffey, Margaret (Ann) Coffey (born 1946), former British Member of Parliament for Stockport * Margaret Beckett (born 1943), British Member of Parliament for Derby South * Margaret Curran (born 1958), former British Member of Parliament for Glasgow East * Margaret Davidson (1871–1964), British wife of colonial governor of New South Wales, Australia * Margaret Davidson (suffragist) (1879–1978), Scottish suffragist, teacher and WW1 nurse * Margaret Ewing (1945–2006), Scottish politician * Margaret Ferrier (born 1960), British Member of Parliament for Rutherglen and Hamilton West * Margaret Greenwood (born 1959), British Member of Parliament for Wirral West * Maggie Hassan, Margarett (Maggie) Hassan (born 1958), United States Senator for New Hampshire * Margaret Hodge (born 1944), British Member of Parliament for Barking * Margaret Hoover (born 1977), American political consultant and commentator, great-granddaughter of the former president * Margaret Gardner Hoey (1875–1942), American political hostess and First Lady of North Carolina * Maggie Jones, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, Margaret (Maggie) Jones, Baroness Jones of Whitchurch, British Labour Peer and trade union official * Margaret Mitchell (Canadian politician) (1925–2017), New Democratic Party Member of Parliament for Vancouver East * Margaret Mitchell (Scottish politician) (born 1952), Scottish Conservative politician * Margaret Moran (born 1955), former Labour MP for Luton South who was convicted of the largest amount of fraud in the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal * Margaret Ritchie, Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick, Margaret Ritchie (born 1958), politician who served in the Northern Ireland Assembly and both British Houses of Parliament * Margaret Rose Sanford (1918–2006), First Lady of North Carolina * Margaret Selina Martei, Ghanaian Member of Parliament for Asamankese (1965–1966) * Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013), first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom who served from 1979 to 1990 * Maggie Throup, Margeret (Maggie) Throup (born 1967), British Member of Parliament for Erewash

Sports

* Margaret Court (born 1942), Australian tennis player * Margaret Groos (born 1959), American long-distance runner * Margaret Hoelzer (born 1983), American swimmer * Margaret Jeffery (1920–2004), British swimmer and Olympian * Margaret Martin (bodybuilder), Margaret Martin (born 1979), American professional bodybuilder * Margaret Maughan (1928–2020), British Paralympic archer * Margaret McIver (1933–2020), Australian equestrian

Other

* Margaret Barclay (accused witch), 1618 as a result of witch trials held in Irvine, Ayrshire * Margaret Catherine Blaikie (1823-1915), Scottish temperance reformer * Margaret Brent (), English immigrant colonial landowner * Margaret Casely-Hayford (born 1959), British lawyer * Margaret Cochran Corbin (1751–1800), fought in the U.S. Revolutionary War and was given a pension by Congress * Margaret Douie Dougal (1858-1938), British chemical publication indexer * Margaret Dye Ellis (1845-1925), American social reformer * Margaret E. Kuhn (1905–1995), founder of the Gray Panthers organisation * Margaret Elizabeth Douglas (1934–2008), English television producer and executive * Margaret Feeny (1917–2012), founder and first director of London's Africa Centre * Margaret Hampshire (1918–2004), British educator and civil servant * Margaret Haughery (1813–1882), philanthropist known as "the mother of the orphans" * Margaret Jeffrey (police officer), Margaret Jeffrey (1896–1977), Australian police officer * Margaret Bischell McFadden, American philanthropist and social worker * Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage (1828–1918), American philanthropist who established the Russell Sage Foundation * Margaret Prior (1773–1842), American humanitarian, missionary, moral reform worker, writer * Margaret Sanger (1879–1966), founder of the birth control movement in the United States * Margaret Swain (1909–2002), English embroidery and textile historian

Fictional characters

* Maggie Simpson, Margaret Evelyn "Maggie" Simpson, in the TV show ''The Simpsons'' * Margaret Fish, a chiropodist and a character in Bob and Margaret * Margaret Hale, heroine in Elizabeth Gaskell's 1855 novel North and South * Margaret Hooper, secretary to White House Chiefs of Staff Leo McGarry and CJ Cregg played by NiCole Robinson in the TV series ''The West Wing'' * Margaret Houlihan, character in both the movie and television show ''M*A*S*H'' * Margaret in ''Much Ado About Nothing'', by Shakespeare * Margaret "Meg" March, character in ''Little Women'' by Louisa May Alcott * Kit Kittredge, Margaret Mildred "Kit" Kittredge, in the ''Kit Kittredge'' series of American Girl books and related toys * Margaret Moonlight, a boss in the Suda 51 game No More Heroes 2: Desperate Struggle * Peggy Bundy, Margaret "Peggy" Bundy, a character played by Katey Sagal in the 1987–97 Fox sitcom ''Married... with Children'' * Peggy Carter, Margaret "Peggy" Carter, a character featured in several storylines published by Marvel Comics * Margaret White (Stephen King), Margaret White, in the 1974 novel ''Carrie'' by Stephen King * Margaret, a character in the Cartoon Network animated series ''Regular Show'' * Mistress Margaret Page in ''The Merry Wives of Windsor'', by Shakespeare * Margaret SquarePants, SpongeBob's mother and Harold's wife in SpongeBob SquarePants * Maggie Horton, Margaret "Maggie" Horton, a character on the soap opera ''Days of Our Lives''

References

External links

* {{Use dmy dates, date=January 2021 English feminine given names Given names of Greek language origin Given names