A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Margarete since 1884
Babies named Margarete per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1918, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Margarete's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 43 |
| 1890s | 82 |
| 1900s | 132 |
| 1910s | 448 |
| 1920s | 515 |
| 1930s | 306 |
| 1940s | 210 |
| 1950s | 213 |
| 1960s | 147 |
| 1970s | 53 |
| 1980s | 88 |
| 1990s | 66 |
| 2000s | 41 |
| 2010s | 7 |
| 2020s | 25 |
Meaning & origin
Margarete is a German variant of Margaret that saw its peak popularity in the United States in 1903. After declining through much of the 20th century, the name has been rising in use since 2018. In 2025, it ranked 11,932nd, with approximately 1 in every 229,610 girls receiving the name. Its revival aligns with a broader interest in vintage Germanic names from a century ago.
Margarete is the German spelling of Margaret, derived from the Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'. The name became widespread in Germany through early Christian saints, most notably Saint Margaret of Antioch. It was frequently used in German-speaking regions throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Greta, Marga, Maggie, Marge
Variants: Margaret, Margareta, Marguerite, Margarethe
Sibling names for Margarete
Names that share Margarete's style, for a brother or sister.
