Margarete
Margarete was the 12703rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 776th; the most babies were born in 1918 (74). More babies were named Margarete in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Margaret) pearl · Greek, Persian
- Rank in 2025
- #12,703 girls, up 3,948 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 7girls
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a girl’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 191874 babies
- Total since 1880
- 2,376babies recorded
What does the name Margarete mean?
Margarete is a spelling of Margaret, pronounced the same way, so it shares Margaret's meaning and origin.
Margaret comes from Greek margarites, 'pearl', through Latin Margarita and Old French. Wiktionary traces the Greek word to an Indo-Iranian source. Wiktionary credits its spread to Saint Margaret the Virgin, an early martyr, and DMNES lists many queens and saints named Margaret, including an 11th-century queen of Scotland. Wikipedia notes it has been an English name since the 11th century and stayed popular through the Middle Ages. Wiktionary notes that Daisy became a nickname for it through French Marguerite.
μαργαρίτης (Ancient Greek, “pearl”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Maggie, Meg, Peggy, Greta, Margot, Marguerite, Margarita, Daisy.
See also: Greek names, names that mean jewel.
Sources for this meaning
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Margaret', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- Wiktionary, entry 'Margaret', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Wikipedia, 'Margaret', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
Margarete popularity since 1880
| Year | Rank (girls) | Babies (girls) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,703 | 7 |
| 2020 | #16,651 | 5 |
| 2010 | — | — |
| 2000 | #11,399 | 8 |
| 1990 | #10,921 | 7 |
| 1980 | #5,757 | 12 |
| 1970 | #4,951 | 11 |
| 1960 | #2,951 | 18 |
| 1950 | #2,310 | 19 |
| 1940 | #1,429 | 29 |
| 1930 | #1,048 | 50 |
| 1920 | #954 | 59 |
| 1910 | #1,194 | 15 |
| 1900 | #1,387 | 9 |
| 1890 | #1,063 | 8 |
| 1880 | — | — |
How popular is Margarete, counting every spelling?
Margarete is a spelling of Margaret, a name family that ranked #130 for girls in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #12,703 for Margarete on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,533 girls in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Margaret | 2,436 | #112 | 11,281 |
| Marguerite | 71 | #2,505 | 381 |
| Margarette | 12 | #8,670 | 52 |
| Margarett | 7 | #12,704 | 28 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Margarete?
7 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Margarete (0.00 per 1,000 births). For a girl named Margarete born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 1,224 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Margarete.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Margarete?
About 800 people born in the US named Margarete are alive today, with a median age of 65; half are between 42 and 76. That makes Margarete a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Margarete by state
How common Margarete was among girls born in each state in 1916–1920, around its peak. It is notably more common than nationally in Texas (1.8×). In 44 states fewer than five girls a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Margarete: their share of US girls followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Margarete, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Margarete
What does Margarete mean?
Margarete is a spelling of Margaret, which means “pearl” (Greek, Persian origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Margarete?
Margarete was the 12703rd most popular name for girls in 2025, given to 7 babies. Its best year was 1888, when it ranked 776th; the most babies were born in 1918 (74). More babies were named Margarete in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Margarete a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a girl’s name given the name Margarete in the US.
Where was Margarete most popular?
In 1916–1920, Margarete was most common in Texas (0.10 per 1,000 girls), followed by Tennessee and Wisconsin.