Marg
A feminine name of Persian origin related to the Sanskrit marga meaning "path".
Name Census estimates that about 38 living Americans carry the first name Marg. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Marg today is around 73 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Marg births was 1918 (12 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Marg. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Marg is about 73 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Margs were born before 1963.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Marg. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
38
~ 1 in 9,019,851 Americans
Peak year
1918
12 babies that year
Average age
73
years old
1961 SSA rank
#6,297
Tracked since 1912
Popularity
Marg: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Marg from the 1910s through to the 1960s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 25 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1950s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marg by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Marg during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Marg
The name Marg originated from the Persian language and culture, dating back to ancient times. It is derived from the Old Persian word "marg," which means "pearl" or "precious stone." The name was popular among the Persian nobility and aristocracy during the medieval period.
In ancient Persian literature, the name Marg is mentioned in several poetic works, including the famous epic poem "Shahnameh" by Ferdowsi. The name was often associated with beauty, purity, and rarity, reflecting the value placed on pearls in Persian culture.
One of the earliest recorded historical figures with the name Marg was Marg-e Zamani, a renowned Persian poetess who lived in the 11th century. She was celebrated for her lyrical compositions and her contributions to the development of Persian literature.
Another notable figure was Marg Khanum, a princess of the Safavid dynasty in Iran during the 16th century. She was renowned for her patronage of the arts and her support of artists and scholars.
In the realm of religion, the name Marg is found in the Zoroastrian scriptures, where it is associated with the concept of "light" and "illumination." This connection further reinforced the positive connotations of the name.
Throughout history, several influential figures have borne the name Marg. One such individual was Marg Ghodsi, an Iranian poet and mystic who lived in the 17th century. Her poetic works explored themes of spirituality and divine love, and she is considered a prominent figure in the Sufi tradition.
Another notable figure was Marg Adib, an Iranian writer and scholar who lived in the 19th century. She was renowned for her contributions to Persian literature and her efforts in promoting women's education.
In the field of art, Marg Moghimi was an Iranian painter and calligrapher who lived in the 20th century. Her vibrant works showcased the rich cultural heritage of Iran and earned her recognition both nationally and internationally.
While the name Marg has its roots in ancient Persian culture, it has also been adopted and adapted in other languages and cultures over time, reflecting the exchange of ideas and influences across civilizations.
Notable bearers
Famous people named Marg
People
Marg + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Marg as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Marg: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Marg?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 38 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Marg going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 9,019,851 US residents.
Is Marg a common name?
We classify Marg as "Very Rare". It ranks above 50.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 107 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Marg most popular?
The single biggest year for Marg was 1918, when 12 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Marg is about 73 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Marg a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Marg in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.