Peggi
A diminutive feminine form of the name Margaret, derived from the Greek name Margarites meaning "pearl".
Name Census estimates that about 508 living Americans carry the first name Peggi. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Peggi today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Peggi births was 1958 (49 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Peggi. 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 Peggi is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Peggis were born before 1968.
People living today
508
~ 1 in 674,713 Americans
Peak year
1958
49 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1985 SSA rank
#11,949
Tracked since 1937
Popularity
Peggi: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Peggi from the 1930s through to the 1980s, spanning 6 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 302 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
Peggi 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 Peggi during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Peggis live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. California, New York, Illinois recorded the most babies named Peggi, while Ohio, Illinois, New York recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Peggi
The name Peggi is a diminutive form of the name Margaret, which is derived from the Greek name Margarites, meaning "pearl." The name Peggi is thought to have originated in the Middle Ages, when nicknames and diminutive forms of names became popular.
The earliest recorded use of the name Peggi dates back to the 16th century in England, where it was a common nickname for Margaret. It was particularly popular among the upper classes and was used by several notable figures in history.
One of the earliest known people with the name Peggi was Peggi Garnett, an English noblewoman who lived in the late 16th century. She was known for her charitable work and for being a patron of the arts.
Another notable Peggi from history was Peggi Lyme, a 17th-century English actress and singer. She performed in several plays and operas and was known for her beautiful voice.
In the 18th century, Peggi Woffington was an Irish actress and dramatist who was considered one of the most famous actresses of her time. She was celebrated for her performances in plays by William Shakespeare and other notable playwrights.
Moving into the 19th century, Peggi Anthon was a Danish artist and painter who was known for her portraits and landscapes. She was a member of the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and her works were exhibited throughout Europe.
Another notable Peggi from the 19th century was Peggi Charlesworth, an English writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and educational reform. She published several books and articles advocating for social and political change.
While the name Peggi has declined in popularity in recent years, it remains a charming and historic name with a rich cultural heritage. Its association with notable figures from different eras and fields highlights the enduring appeal of this diminutive form of Margaret.
People
Peggi + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Peggi as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with P
Other first names starting with P with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Peggi: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Peggi?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 508 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Peggi 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 674,713 US residents.
Is Peggi a common name?
We classify Peggi as "Very Rare". It ranks above 84.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 723 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Peggi most popular?
The single biggest year for Peggi was 1958, when 49 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Peggi is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Peggi a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Peggi 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.