Margaret

The story

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromμαργαρίτης“pearl”
2. Latin · derived fromMargarita
3. Old French · derived fromMargaret
4. Middle English · inherited fromMargaret
5. English todayMargaret

From the name of 3rd century Saint Margaret the Virgin, from Middle English Margaret, from Old French Margaret (French Marguerite), from Latin Margarita, from Ancient Greek μαργαρίτης (margarítēs, “pearl”), ultimately from an Indo-Iranian source. The same source, through folk etymology, has produced Old English meregrot (“pearl”, literally “stone or pebble of the sea”), related to Old Saxon merigrita, merigriota (“pearl”), Old High German merigrioz, equivalent to mer- + groat.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• discovered 2003 A moon of Uranus, named for a character in Much Ado About Nothing.