A 1950s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Margo since 1905
Babies named Margo per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 26 |
| 1910s | 151 |
| 1920s | 304 |
| 1930s | 1,209 |
| 1940s | 4,791 |
| 1950s | 5,886 |
| 1960s | 3,956 |
| 1970s | 2,271 |
| 1980s | 1,741 |
| 1990s | 1,217 |
| 2000s | 886 |
| 2010s | 1,817 |
| 2020s | 2,953 |
Meaning & origin
Margo is a French short form of Margaret, meaning pearl, and offers a chic, understated alternative to the longer original. First recorded in U.S. data in 1905, it peaked in 1951 at rank 559, then declined before beginning a steady upward climb since 2006. As of 2025, about 1 in 2,976 baby girls receive the name, with particular popularity in Rhode Island, Nebraska, and Utah. Its revival reflects a broader taste for vintage French-inflected names that are both elegant and concise.
Margo is the French form of Margaret, which derives from the Greek word 'margarites' meaning pearl. The name entered French as Marguerite, with Margot and Margo as pet forms. It has been used in English-speaking countries since the 19th century, often chosen for its elegant simplicity.
Where Margo is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Margo” around the world
Where Margo lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
20
babies in 2024
Ireland
4
babies in 2025
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Maggie, Marge, Mar
Sibling names for Margo
Names that share Margo's style, for a brother or sister.
