Name meaning & stats
Margaret
Margaret means “pearl” (Ancient Greek origin). 556,935 US babies since 1940, peak 1947. Notable Margarets are 2.0× over-represented as politicians.
What it means
“pearl”
Ancient GreekWell documented
From Saint Margaret, via Latin Margarita.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1947
556,935 US babies were named Margaret between 1940 and 2025.
Where Margarets end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Politician | 2.0× | High · 113 people |
| Writer | 1.1× | High · 80 people |
| Professor | 1.9× | High · 74 people |
| Actor | 0.5× | High · 46 people |
Among notable women who are politicians, Margarets show up 2.0× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Margaret has a surprise career: 2.5×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 94% of the family
- Margaret 94%
- Marguerite 4%
- Margret 1%
- Margarett <1%
- Margarette <1%
- Margarete <1%
- Margarite <1%
- Margurite <1%
- Margrett <1%
- Margeret <1%
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1947)