Margaret

Margaret derives from the Latin Margarita, which was borrowed from the Greek margarites, meaning pearl. The Greek word itself may have been adopted from an Old Persian or Sanskrit source, reflecting the pearl's status as a luxury trade item of the ancient world. The name entered wide use in Western Europe through its association with Saint Margaret of Antioch, one of the most popular saints of the medieval church. It became established in Britain through Saint Margaret of Scotland, the eleventh-century queen consort who was canonised for her piety and charitable works.

Margaret has one of the most impressive roll-calls of bearers in English history. Saint Margaret of Scotland, patron saint of Scotland, established the name's spiritual prestige. Three Scottish queens bore the name, as did Margaret of Anjou, whose tenacity shaped the Wars of the Roses. In the twentieth century, Margaret Thatcher gave it an association with determined, uncompromising authority. Princess Margaret lent it glamour and a certain tragic romance. The name's extraordinary nickname range, from Maggie and Meg to Peggy, Maisie, Greta, and Daisy, means it can present very differently depending on how it is used, and it is currently experiencing a revival in England as parents rediscover vintage names.