
Origin, Meaning, And History Of Maggie
The short name Maggie is derived from the name Margaret and is of Greek origin, wherein it means pearl. Margaret has been a popular name for many centuries and was derived from the Greek word margarites, meaning pearl. In European countries, Margaret became a popular name in the Middle Ages and is still a popular choice today even after centuries.
The tradition of naming babies after saints in the middle ages may have influenced the rise of the name Margaret. St. Margaret of Antioch is a popular saint in the Christian tradition whose day of death is celebrated as a feast day to honor her. The name Margaret signifies the purity and innocence of St. Margaret and the magnificence and rarity of a pearl.
Different variations can be found across cultures and languages, like Margarita in Latin, Margarete in German, Margaretha in Swedish and Dutch, Margaréta in Slovak, and Margit in Hungarian. The name Maggie was used as a short form of Margaret and got popular in the 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States and other English-speaking countries. By this time, it was used as a sweet nickname and became a popular given name. The name has maintained its popularity recently and is still one of the popular choices for new parents today.
The name Maggie is popularly used in well-known television series, movies, and novels to identify fictional characters. The first well-known character is Dr. Maggie Pierce in the popular American drama Grey’s Anatomy. Another popular name is Maggie Green, one of the lead characters with a strong personality in the American comic book and TV series The Walking Dead. And last but not least, Maggie Horton, the versatile character on the American soap opera Days of Our Lives.
How To Pronounce Maggie?
Famous People With The Name Maggie
- Maggie de VriesAn award-winning Canadian writer known for her book Hunger journeys
- Maggie TabbererA dual Gold Logie winner, Australian fashion personality
- Maggie NicholsAn accomplished American gymnast and the first to complete a Gym Slam for Oklahoma
- Maggie Elizabeth JonesThe American actress known for her role in ‘We bought a zoo’
- Maggie WheelerThe American actress, best known for her role as Janice on F.R.I.E.N.D.S. and winner of the Best Actress award in Cinetex Comedy Festival
- Maggie BowenAn Olympic level swimmer from America and bearer of two medals in the 2001 World Aquatics Championships
Maggie On The Popularity Chart
A classic yet contemporary name Maggie has been popular for centuries and is still among the top names for girls. The graphs below show the trend in its growth over the years.
Popularity Over Time
Maggie’s popularity reached its highest peak in 2007 with 1873 babies per million and has had fluctuating popularity since 2012. The trends can be traced with the given graph.
Source: Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
Its ranking over time has been improving since 1985. The name held its best rating when it was ranked 181st in 2007. The change in ranking over time can be observed in the graph.
Source: Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Maggie
If you like the name Maggie but are still searching for a similar name for your sweet little girl, here are some more options similar to Maggie.
Names With Similar Meaning As Maggie
If you find the name Maggie intriguing and want other options with similar meanings, here we have more names that mean the same.
Name Numerology For Maggie


