Margaret Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Margaret is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Margaret?
Margaret is spelled M-A-R-G-A-R-E-T. The name has 8 letters.
Margaret at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Margaret derives from the Greek word “margaritēs,” meaning “pearl.”
- Origin
- Margaret is commonly associated with Greek origins through the word “margaritēs,” which means “pearl.”
- Pronunciation
- MAR-gret · 2 syllables
Margaret Popularity in 2025
Rank#112
Recorded Births2,436
- Girls usage rose 7 places to #112 and recorded 120 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Margaret Mean?
Margaret derives from the Greek word “margaritēs,” meaning “pearl.”
Origin: Margaret is commonly associated with Greek origins through the word “margaritēs,” which means “pearl.”
How Do You Pronounce Margaret?
PronunciationMAR-gret
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Margaret?
- History
- The name Margaret has been used historically in English-speaking countries and appears in historical texts dating back several centuries.
Margaret Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2004 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 2,436 | #112 |
| 2024 | Girls | 2,316 | #119 |
| 2023 | Girls | 2,085 | #132 |
| 2022 | Girls | 2,199 | #127 |
| 2021 | Girls | 2,245 | #125 |
| 2020 | Girls | 2,196 | #126 |
| 2019 | Girls | 2,214 | #127 |
| 2018 | Girls | 2,334 | #127 |
| 2017 | Girls | 2,255 | #132 |
| 2016 | Girls | 2,217 | #139 |
| 2015 | Girls | 2,110 | #155 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,951 | #169 |
| 2013 | Girls | 1,774 | #180 |
| 2012 | Girls | 1,780 | #176 |
| 2012 | Boys | 6 | #10,770 |
| 2011 | Girls | 1,699 | #186 |
| 2010 | Girls | 1,702 | #182 |
| 2009 | Girls | 1,768 | #187 |
| 2008 | Girls | 1,865 | #178 |
| 2007 | Girls | 2,029 | #173 |
| 2006 | Girls | 2,188 | #160 |
| 2005 | Girls | 2,312 | #151 |
| 2004 | Girls | 2,436 | #133 |
| 2004 | Boys | 7 | #8,927 |
When Was Margaret Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1921 · Girls
28,468 recorded births
National rank #4
1920 · Girls
27,994 recorded births
National rank #4
1918 · Girls
27,139 recorded births
National rank #4
1922 · Girls
26,862 recorded births
National rank #4
Where Margaret Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| DC | #21 | 18 |
| AL | #35 | 77 |
| ND | #53 | 14 |
| NE | #57 | 28 |
| WY | #58 | 6 |
| MO | #59 | 78 |
| SC | #61 | 58 |
| IA | #61 | 41 |