Margarite
A feminine name of French origin meaning "pearl".
Name Census estimates that about 599 living Americans carry the first name Margarite. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Margarite today is around 64 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Margarite births was 1925 (52 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Margarite. 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.
People living today
599
~ 1 in 572,211 Americans
Peak year
1925
52 babies that year
Average age
64
years old
2015 SSA rank
#18,169
Tracked since 1888
Popularity
Margarite: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Margarite from the 1880s through to the 2010s, spanning 14 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 413 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Margarite 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 Margarite during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Margarites live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. California, Texas, New York recorded the most babies named Margarite, while Michigan, Pennsylvania, Illinois recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 22 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Margarite
The name Margarite is derived from the Greek word "margarites", meaning pearl. This name has its origins in antiquity, with references to it found in ancient Greek literature and texts.
The earliest known use of the name Margarite dates back to the 3rd century AD, when it was mentioned in a text by the Greek writer Athenaeus. The name was likely used earlier, as pearls were highly valued and symbolic in ancient Greek culture.
In medieval times, the name Margarite gained popularity in Europe, particularly in France and England. It was often associated with royalty and nobility, as pearls were seen as a symbol of wealth and status.
One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name Margarite was Saint Margaret of Antioch, a semi-legendary virgin martyr who lived in the 3rd or 4th century AD. Her story and name became popular during the Middle Ages, contributing to the widespread use of the name.
Another notable Margarite was Margarite of Provence, born in 1221, who was the wife of King Louis IX of France. She was known for her piety and charitable works, and her name was often associated with virtue and grace.
In the 16th century, Margarite de Valois, born in 1553, was a French princess and the wife of King Henry IV of France. She was a renowned patron of the arts and played a significant role in the cultural life of the French Renaissance.
During the Renaissance period, the name Margarite was also popular among artists and writers. Margarite of Navarre, born in 1492, was a French princess and author who is remembered for her collection of short stories, the Heptameron.
In the 17th century, Margarite Yourcenar, born in 1903, was a renowned French author and the first woman to be elected to the Académie Française. Her works, including the novel "Memoirs of Hadrian", earned her international acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Through the ages, the name Margarite has maintained its association with beauty, purity, and nobility. Its Greek roots and historical connections have contributed to its enduring popularity across various cultures and time periods.
People
Margarite + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Margarite 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
Margarite: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Margarite?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 599 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Margarite 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 572,211 US residents.
Is Margarite a common name?
We classify Margarite as "Very Rare". It ranks above 86.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,920 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Margarite most popular?
The single biggest year for Margarite was 1925, when 52 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Margarite is about 64 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Margarite a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Margarite 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.