Margaret comes from the Greek margarites, meaning "pearl," and it spread across Europe through the popularity of Saint Margaret of Antioch in the Middle Ages. Because it was used in so many languages, its nicknames arrived from many directions at once: English clipped it to Meg and Maggie, German shortened Margarete to Greta and Gretchen, and Spanish and Italian turned Margarita into Rita.
Some of Margaret's nicknames look unrelated at first. Peggy comes from Meg by way of Peg, following the old English habit of rhyming a nickname into a new one. Daisy comes from French, where marguerite is the word for the daisy flower. In Little Women, Meg March's daughter Margaret is called Daisy, and Meg herself is one of fiction's best-known Margarets.
Real Margarets have carried the nicknames too. Margaret Thatcher was Maggie to the British press, the actress Rita Hayworth was born Margarita Cansino, and the ballerina Margot Fonteyn was born Margaret Hookham. The lists below are grouped by the path each nickname took. If Margaret is a family name you want to honor without repeating it outright, these nicknames are a good way in: a little Greta or Daisy still carries the name.
Maggie, Meg and Megan
The most direct short forms, taken from the start of the name.
- MaggieThe most popular short form today. Friendly and energetic.
- MagsCasual and affectionate, the kind of name friends use.
- MegA crisp, old English short form, as in Meg March of Little Women.
- MeganBegan as a Welsh pet form of Meg, and became a name of its own.
Peg, Peggy and Madge
Nicknames that changed their first sound along the way.
- PegMeg with its first letter swapped, the rhyming habit that also made Bob from Rob.
- PeggyPeg with a -y ending. Friendly, bouncy and very mid-century.
- MadgeA traditional English pet form. Vintage and a little cheeky.
Marge, Margie and Margot
Short forms that keep the "Mar" at the start of the name.
- MargeThe first syllable on its own. Plain-spoken and warm.
- MargieMarge with a friendly ending. Very mid-century.
- MargoA stylish short form with a sophisticated feel.
- MargotThe French-style spelling. The ballerina Margot Fonteyn was born Margaret.
Daisy, Maisie and May
Sweet, soft nicknames with some unexpected histories.
- DaisyFrom the French marguerite, meaning "daisy." A traditional nickname for Margaret.
- MaisieA Scottish pet form, from the Gaelic Mairead.
- MayA traditional pet form used for both Margaret and Mary.
From other languages
Margaret's forms across Europe, several of which became popular in English too.
- GretaA German and Scandinavian short form of Margareta.
- GretchenA German pet form of Margarete. Well known in English, too.
- GretelAnother German pet form, as in the fairy tale Hansel and Gretel.
- RitaShort for the Spanish and Italian Margarita. Rita Hayworth was a Margarita.
- MetaA German and Scandinavian short form of Margareta.
- MargueriteThe French form, and the French word for the daisy.
- MaireadThe Irish form of the name.
Choosing a Margaret nickname
- Maggie and Meg are the easy defaults. If you want something less expected, Daisy, Greta and Margot all feel fresh again.
- Use the story. Knowing that Daisy comes from the French word for the flower makes it feel less random and more like a family choice.
- Consider Margot or Greta if you'd like a nickname that works as a stylish adult name, too.
- Peggy and Madge carry a strong vintage feel. That's charming on a child now, but choose it knowing it will read as retro.
Common questions
Why is Peggy a nickname for Margaret?
Margaret was shortened to Meg, Meg was rhymed into Peg, and Peg picked up a -y ending to become Peggy. Rhyming nicknames like this were common in English for centuries.
Why is Daisy a nickname for Margaret?
In French, Margaret is Marguerite, which is also the French word for the daisy flower. That connection made Daisy a natural pet name for Margarets.
Is Greta short for Margaret?
Yes. Greta is a German and Scandinavian short form of Margareta, the local form of Margaret. Gretchen and Gretel come from the same name.
What does Margaret mean?
Margaret means "pearl," from the Greek word margarites.