Margaret \m(a)-rga-ret, mar-garet\ as a girl's name is pronounced MAR-gret. It is of Greek origin, and the meaning of Margaret is "pearl". A saint's name. Historical: the name of nine queens of England, Scotland, France, and Austria. The name came into use among English speakers via Latin (as Margarita) and Old French (as Marguerite). It has been closely identified with Scotland. Marit is a Scandinavian form. Britain's Margaret Thatcher; actresses Margaret Sullavan, Marg Helgenberger; anthropologist Margaret Mead; writer Margaret Mitchell.

Margaret has 97 variant forms: Greta, Gretal, Gretchen, Gretel, Grethel, Gretta, Grette, Gretl, Madge, Mag, Maggi, Maggie, Maggy, Maiga, Maighread, Mairead, Maisie, Maisy, Malgorzata, Marcheta, Marchieta, Marga, Margalit, Margalo, Margareta, Margarete, Margarethe, Margaretta, Margarette, Margarida, Margarit, Margarita, Margarite, Margaruite, Marge, Marged, Margeen, Margeret, Margeretta, Margerie, Margerita, Margery, Marget, Margette, Margey, Marghanita, Margharita, Margherita, Marghretta, Margie, Margies, Margisia, Margit, Margita, Margize, Margo, Margot, Margred, Margret, Margrete, Margreth, Margrett, Margrit, Margrid, Marguarette, Marguarita, Marguerita, Marguerite, Marguita, Margy, Marit, Marjery, Marjey, Marji, Marjie, Marjorey, Marjorie, Marjory, Marketa, Marketta, Markie, Markita, Marquetta, Meg, Megan, Meggi, Meggie, Meggy, Meghan, Meta, Mette, Meyta, Peg, Pegeen, Peggie, Peggy and Rita.

For more information, see also related names Daisy, Magali, Mamie, Pearl and Reta.

Baby names that sound like Margaret are Margerey and Margeree.