How Many People Are Named Margaret?
Complete statistics for the name Margaret: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.
Margaret is a classic name with deep roots, coming from the Greek word for pearl. About 486,935 people named Margaret are living in the US today, making it 1 in 678 Americans. It spent 69 years in the US top 10, which is a seriously impressive run for any name.
📖 Meaning & Origin
Life path number 11 is traditionally associated with intuition, spiritual insight, and a heightened sensitivity to the world. People connected to 11 are often seen as idealistic and inspirational, driven by a deep inner vision rather than purely practical goals.
🌍 Worldwide Usage
⚥ Gender Distribution
📊 Births by Age Group
Avg Cohort Age: 87All 1,264,474 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).
📈 Popularity Over Time
Peak: 1921Annual US births from SSA records · Trend: Slowly rising
🏆 Name Scorecard
Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency
📜 Margaret Through the Generations
Margaret had one of the longest runs at the top of any American name, spending 69 years in the US top 10. Its peak came in 1921 with 28,521 births in a single year, a number that reflects just how dominant it once was. Of the 1,264,474 people ever given this name in the US, only 486,935 are estimated to be living today, which makes sense given how old most Margarets are. A striking 86% are over 60, and the average age sits at 87, so this is very much a name that belongs to an older generation. Only 63,881 Margarets are under 30, compared to 1,091,790 over 60. That said, the trend is slowly rising, which suggests parents are rediscovering it as a vintage choice worth reviving. It feels like a name that skipped a generation and is quietly finding its way back.
📍 State Distribution (Top 10)
✨ Similar Names to Margaret
🌿 Related Names by Origin
Other names sharing Margaret's Greek roots
📄 About the Name Margaret
How Many People Have the Name Margaret?
Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 509 people in the United States currently share the name Margaret. That works out to roughly 1 in every 651,177 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.
Is Margaret a Common or Rare Name?
Margaret is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.
What Does the Name Margaret Mean?
Margaret means "pearl" and comes from Greek origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 11.
Gender Breakdown
Of all recorded bearers of Margaret in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.
When Was Margaret Most Popular?
The name Margaret reached peak popularity in 1921, with 28,521 babies registered that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.
How Is This Data Calculated?
All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
How many people are named Margaret?
Approximately 509 people named Margaret live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 509. That works out to roughly 1 in 651,177 Americans.
Is Margaret a rare name?
Margaret is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 651,177 Americans has this name.
What does the name Margaret mean?
Margaret means "pearl" and comes from Greek origins.
Is Margaret more male or female?
Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Margaret are male and 100% are female.
When was Margaret most popular?
Margaret peaked in 1921 with 28,521 births that year. Current trend: Slowly rising.
How accurate are these statistics?
All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.