Margaret is a feminine given name, which means "pearl". It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Old Iranian. It has been an English name since the 11th century, and remained popular throughout the Middle Ages. It became less popular between the 16th 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 languages, including Daisy, Greta, Gretchen, Maggie, Madge, Maisie, Marge, Margie, Margo, Margot, Marnie, Meg, Megan, Molly, Peggy, and Rita.
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Etymology
Margaret is derived via French (Marguerite) and Latin (Margarita) from Ancient Greek: μαργαρίτης/μαργαριτάρι (margarítēs/margaritari) meaning "pearl" and μαργαρίτα (margarita) which means "daisy", via Persian مروارید murwārīd, meaning "pearl". Margarita (given name) traces the etymology further as مروارید, morvārīd in modern Persian, derived from Sogdian marγārt, both meaning 'pearl'. It ultimately traces its roots to Old Iranian -mrgāhrīta*, "derived from a shell".
Nobility
Austria
Margaret, Countess of Tyrol (1318–1369)
Belgium and the Netherlands
Margaret, Marchioness of Namur (1194–1270)
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, Governor of the Habsburg Netherlands
Margaret of York (1446–1503), Duchess of Burgundy and wife of Charles the Bold, Regent of France
Margaret de La Marck-Arenberg (1527–1599), ruling countess of Arenberg
Denmark
Margaret I of Denmark (1353–1412), founder of the Kalmar Union
Margrethe II of Denmark (born 1940)
Margaret Vinstarr, Danish courtier in Scotland to Anne of Denmark
France
Margaret, Countess of Blois (died 1230)
Margaret, Countess of Brienne (born 1365)
Margaret of France, Queen of England (1279–1318), Queen of England as the second wife of King Edward I
Margaret, Countess of Soissons (died 1350)
Margaret, Countess of Vertus (1406–1466)
Margaret of France, Duchess of Brabant (1254–1271)
Margaret of Provence (1221–1285), Queen of France
Margaret of Valois (1553–1615), Queen of France
Margaret of Valois, Duchess of Berry (1523–1574), Duchess of Savoy by marriage to Duke Emmanuel Philibert of Savoy
Margaret, Countess of Vertus (1406–1466), ruling Countess of Vertus and Etampes
Margaret of York (1446–1503), Duchess of Burgundy and wife of Charles the Bold, Regent of France
Margaret de Fiennes, Baroness Mortimer of Wigmore, French noblewoman
Marguerite de Navarre (1492–1549)
Greece
Margaret, Lady of Lisarea (fl. 1276)
Hungary
Margaret of Hungary (1175–1223), wife of Isaac II Angelos Byzantine Emperor
Saint Margit (1242-1270), daughter of King Béla IV of Hungary
Margit of Luxembourg (1335-1349´), Queen of Hungary
Margaret of Durazzo (1347-1412), Queen of Naples and Hungary and Princess of Achaea
Italy
Margaret, Countess of Tyrol (1318–1369), present-day Italy
Norway
Margaret of Sweden, Queen of Norway (c. 1155–1209)
Margaret of Scotland (Maid of Norway) (1282–1290)
Portugal
Margaret of Savoy, Vicereine of Portugal (1589–1655), the last Habsburg Vicereine of Portugal
Romania
Margareta of Romania (born 1949)
Religion
Canonised
Margaret Clitherow (1556–1586)
Margaret the Barefooted (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)
Saint Margaret of Scotland (1045–1093)
Saint Margaret the Virgin (c. 209–304 AD), the oldest and most prominent St. Margaret; also known as Margaret of Antioch
Beatified
Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647–1690), Catholic Saint and Mystic
Margaret Ball (1515–1584), Lady Mayoress of Dublin and Catholic martyr
Margaret Cheyne (died 1537), English Catholic martyr
Margaret Clitherow (1556–1586), English saint and martyr
Margaret Fredkulla, queen of Denmark and Norway
Margaret Leijonhufvud (1516–1551), queen of Sweden
Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury (1473–1541)
Margaret Polley, English Protestant martyr
Margaret Sambiria, queen of Denmark (1252–1259)
Margaret Skulesdatter, queen of Norway
Margaret Stewart, Dauphine of France (1424–1445)
Margaret Stewart, Duchess of Touraine (1370–1405), Scottish peeress
Margaret Tudor, queen of Scotland (1503–1513)
Margaret Ward (1550–1588), English Catholic martyr
Margaret Wilson, Scottish Presbyterian
Fictional characters
Margaret, Jake the Dog’s mother in the TV series Adventure Time
Margaret in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Margaret, a character in the Cartoon Network animated series Regular Show
Mary Margaret Blanchard, a main character in ABC TV show Once Upon A Time, played by Ginnifer Goodwin
Margaret "Peggy" Bundy, a character played by Katey Sagal in the 1987–97 Fox sitcom Married... with Children
Margaret "Peggy" Carter, a character featured in several storylines published by Marvel Comics
Margaret Fish, a chiropodist and a character in Bob and Margaret
Magrat Garlick, a young witch in the Terry Pratchett Discworld novels
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 "Maggie" Horton, a character on the soap opera Days of Our Lives
Margaret Houlihan, character in both the movie and television show M*A*S*H
Margaret Mildred "Kit" Kittredge, in the Kit Kittredge series of American Girl books and related toys