Midge
A diminutive name derived from the English name Mildred.
Name Census estimates that about 443 living Americans carry the first name Midge. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Midge today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Midge births was 1953 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Midge. 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 Midge is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Midges were born before 1965.
People living today
443
~ 1 in 773,712 Americans
Peak year
1953
31 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1974 SSA rank
#9,690
Tracked since 1916
Popularity
Midge: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Midge from the 1910s through to the 1970s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 259 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
Midge 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 Midge during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Midges live
The SSA's state-level files cover 3 states and territories. California, New York, Illinois recorded the most babies named Midge, while Illinois, New York, California recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 12 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Midge
The name Midge has its origins in the English language and is believed to have emerged as a diminutive form of the name Margery, itself a variant of the Greek name Margaret, meaning "pearl". The earliest known usage of the name Midge dates back to the 16th century.
Midge gained popularity in the Middle Ages, often used as a nickname or pet name for those named Margaret. It was particularly common among the lower classes and in rural areas of England. The name's association with small, delicate creatures like midges or mosquitoes may have contributed to its enduring use as a diminutive.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name Midge was an English woman named Midge Stratton, who lived in the late 16th century. Records show she was a seamstress in the village of Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare.
In the 18th century, Midge Millwood was a famous actress and singer who performed in various theaters across London and Edinburgh. She was known for her comic roles and her ability to entertain audiences with her wit and charm.
The 19th century saw the rise of Midge Thompson, a renowned British explorer and naturalist. Born in 1829, she was among the first women to participate in scientific expeditions to remote regions of the world, including the Amazon rainforest and the African savanna.
In the early 20th century, Midge Dexter was a pioneering aviator and one of the first women to obtain a pilot's license in the United States. She played a significant role in promoting aviation and advocating for women's involvement in the industry.
Another notable figure was Midge Rendell, a British novelist and playwright born in 1920. Her works explored themes of love, family, and societal issues, earning her critical acclaim and several literary awards throughout her career.
While the name Midge may have fallen out of fashion in recent times, its rich history and enduring appeal as a diminutive form of Margaret continue to make it a unique and distinctive choice for those seeking a name with character and charm.
People
Midge + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Midge 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
Midge: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Midge?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 443 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Midge 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 773,712 US residents.
Is Midge a common name?
We classify Midge as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 805 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Midge most popular?
The single biggest year for Midge was 1953, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Midge is about 71 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Midge a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Midge 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.