Margaret

Margaret is a female first name, derived via French (Marguerite), Latin (Margarita), and Ancient Greek: μαργαρίτης (margarítēs, a pearl)[1] from the Old Persian word for pearl *margārīta- (compare Modern Persian morvārīd "pearl").

Margaret
Margaret the Virgin is one of many saints named Margaret
GenderFemale
Name day23 May or 25 January
Origin
Word/namePersian
MeaningPearl
Other names
Related namesMaggie, Mairead, Madge, Marguerite, Margarita, Margareta, Margarida, Margarete, Marge, Margo, Margot, Margie, Margit, Meg, Megan, Maisie, Rita, Gretchen, Gretel, Greta, Peggy

The Persian is cognate with the Sanskrit मञ्जरी mañjarī meaning "pearl" or "cluster of blossoms".[2][3][4][5]

Margaret has been an English name since the eleventh century, and remained popular throughout the Middle Ages. It became less popular between the sixteenth century and eighteenth 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, Mairead, Madge, Margarete, Marge, Margie, Meg, Megan, Rita, Gretchen, and Peggy.[6]

Aristocrats

Austria

Belgium and the Netherlands

Denmark

England, Scotland, and United Kingdom

France

Hungary

Norway

Religious figures

Canonized

Beatified

Artists and authors

Educators and scientists

Politics

Other

Fictional characters

See also

References

  1. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Margaret" . Encyclopædia Britannica. 17 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 700.
  2. "View Name: Margaret". Behind the Name. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  3. "Margaret". Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  4. "Monier Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary". Universität zu Köln (University of Cologne). Retrieved 24 December 2012.
  5. "مروارید". Retrieved 4 October 2017.
  6. Cecil Adams (8 January 1993). "Why is Peggy the nickname for Margaret?". The Straight Dope. Retrieved 13 August 2012.

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