Maggie

Pearl — a girl name of Greek origin

GenderGirl
OriginGreek
MeaningPearl
PronunciationMAG-ee

Popularity of Maggie in the United States

#294Rank in 2025
1,041Births in 2025
#46 in 1880Peak Popularity
→ Stable10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Maggie

Maggie began as a diminutive of Margaret, which derives from the Greek "margarites" meaning "pearl." Though long used only as a nickname, Maggie has been given increasingly often as a formal first name in its own right since the late 20th century, valued for its warm, spunky, approachable character. It has been carried by numerous cultural figures, from the title character of the classic song "Maggie May" to Maggie Simpson of The Simpsons. Its short, friendly sound offers an appealing alternative to the more formal Margaret while retaining the same pearl-associated meaning.

Maggie Around the World

Maggie is used in 1 languages worldwide, with 27+ international variants.

Languages
English
Details

TypeFemale given name

International Variants
MargretGerman
MargueriteFrench
MargotDutch
MargitDutch
MargaritaSpanish
MargaretEnglish
MargaridaPortuguese
MarietaPolish
Margaretamultiple languages
Marijeta
MargheritaItalian
MałgorzataPolish
MargrjetIcelandic
Margalida
MarjetkaSlovene
Marjetica
MargitaLatvian
MarjetaSlovene
MargareteGerman
MarkétaCzech
MargrétIcelandic
MargreteIcelandic
Margrethe
MargarethaDutch
MargedWelsh
Margreth
Maguy

Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.

Nicknames for Maggie

MagsMeg

Famous People Named Maggie

  • Maggie Smith — English actress and Academy Award winner
  • Maggie Gyllenhaal — American actress and director
  • Maggie Simpson — animated character from The Simpsons

Similar Names to Maggie

If you like Maggie, you might also consider these names with a similar feel.

Also consider:Molly

Sibling Name Ideas for Maggie

Looking for names that pair well with Maggie? Here are some sibling name suggestions that share a similar style and feel.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Maggie mean?

Maggie is a girl name of Greek origin meaning "Pearl." Maggie began as a diminutive of Margaret, which derives from the Greek "margarites" meaning "pearl." Though long used only as a nickname, Maggie has been given increasingly often as a formal first name in its own right since the late 20th century, valued for its warm, spunky, approachable character.

How do you pronounce Maggie?

Maggie is pronounced MAG-ee. Common variations include Maggy, Magie, Maggee.

Is Maggie a girl name?

Yes, Maggie is traditionally a girl name. Popular nicknames include Mags, Meg.

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