Holding steady.
Popularity of Marga since 1914
Babies named Marga per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1960, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Marga's real moment was 1946.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 22 |
| 1920s | 17 |
| 1930s | 40 |
| 1940s | 73 |
| 1950s | 80 |
| 1960s | 61 |
| 1970s | 38 |
| 1980s | 7 |
| 1990s | 5 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Marga is a rare German and Dutch short form of Margareta, itself a form of Margaret, meaning 'pearl'. First recorded in the United States in 1914, the name saw its peak usage in 1946. Despite its initial mid-century popularity, Marga has not sustained a presence in the top 1000 names for many decades, and its trajectory is described as stable at extremely low levels. It remains a distinctive choice for parents seeking a traditional European name with a simple, elegant sound. The name is virtually unheard of in modern American baby naming, with no top states or recent rankings.
Marga is a diminutive or short form of Margareta, the German and Dutch form of Margaret. Margaret ultimately derives from the Greek word 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'. The name was borne by several saints and became widespread across Europe in various forms.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maggie, Greta
Sibling names for Marga
Names that share Marga's style, for a brother or sister.
