Tell me your thoughts on Margaret

[Lauraloop1516]

So I am just off the phone with my grandma, who is in a care home and I obviously have been unable to see for a long time. Her dementia has really advanced and it was heartbreaking to have to natter away nonsense to fill the silence (she struggles to speak).

Anyway, I'm 13 weeks pregnant and we don't know the sex yet. I came off the phone and felt it would be perfect to call a girl 'Margaret' nn 'Maggie' after my granny. I'm not sure she'll get to meet them (we live a few hours away and obviously no one knows what restrictions will be like later in the year) and it would at least be a small way to remember her everyday.

So... what do you think? I had always thought it was an old lady name - EVERY old lady seems to be called Margaret - yet I'm suddenly overcome by this feeling. Do you know many little Margarets? Is it going to spike in popularity or do you think it will remain niche?

[migrainehell]

I love it. NN Maggie. 😊

[Sometimesonly]

Love it! It's elegant but you can use Maggie, Meg, Daisy as nicknames if you prefer.

[reefedsail]

I prefer Margot, but as you have a personal connection with Margaret I think it would be lovely.

[Notsureaboutmuch]

I’m not a fan of the name, however, that is overridden by the fact there is a family connection and hence sentimentality to it. As pp’s have said a nickname on a day to day basis may be the ideal compromise while still honouring your relative.

[Changeythenamey]

It’s a great name. Personally I do associate with the Iron Lady so I wouldn’t use it but I don’t think that’s a massive concern for most. I am quiet politically active for the other team. I think if I wasn’t such a gov-bore I would totally consider it.

[crumble82]

I prefer Marguerite as a full name but I love the nn Maggie

[zunchie]

Obviously the reasoning behind the name is lovely but by the time she's in school I don't think the name will have came back in fashion and she would probably get made fun of quite a lot, it does sound very old-y.

[Changeythenamey]

Sorry, just to add on the politics front. Margaret was still the first female PM and historic for many good reasons. I don’t think it would be a hinderance to a child growing up now in any way.

[TheLurkingOne]

I don't think she would be made fun of ar all. Kids won't have associations with it being an old lady name, nor will they remember thatcher. It's a lovely classic name with pretty, fun nicknames. However, I do think it's going to get popular.

[DinosaurDiana]

I knew a Maggie.
She really ‘owned’ her name. Yes, it’s an old name, but she was so bubbly and fun.

[KarensChoppyBob]

My first thought was "Thatcher" but obviously your child's generation won't really reference that.

"Maggie" actually sounds really nice.

[angelaEhen]

Just Maggie is lovely

[M0rT]

I like it, I know a teen Margaret Mary and it's just her name. Don't think she has ever been teased for it.
Her friends call her Maggie May.

[Crosstrainer]

I love it. It’s definitely due a comeback; I think it was the most popular name for years in the 1940s. It’s very classy, unusual these days and has loads of diminutives: Meg, Maggie, Margot, Daisy. I’d go for it - lovely tribute to your granny. (I don’t know another, but one of my daughters has an 11 year old friend called Maggie.)

[MindyStClaire]

I like it, and I think it's surely due a major comeback any day now. It's DD's middle name for family reasons.

[RinkyD]

I like the name Margaret, but it sounds ‘hard’ hard to me as does Maggie, I really love ‘Margot’.

[OakleyStreetisnotinChelsea]

I've got one, she's 12 so I think it's a great name.

[JemimaTiggywinkle]

I think it will come back. I know a Maggie in her 30s.

[IamnotwhouthinkIam]

I think it would be a lovely way to honour your Gran. I don't know any little Margaret's personally but to me it's a very traditional name with a long, rich history - but one which happens to be slightly unfashionable at the moment (similar to names like Jane, Ruth, Mary and Frances).

Margaret is too classic to completely date though imo - not the same way that names like Gertrude, Mildred, Hilda, Edna, Bertha etc have. I think Margaret will eventually make a big comeback but it will always be used at low levels in the meantime - because there are so many pretty nn's/variations if you use Margaret on the BC (my fave nn's are Greta, Maggie, Maisie and Mae personally).

[AdaColeman]

I've always loved the name Margaret. I know it has some sweet nicknames linked to it, but I have a friend with this name and always use the full version of her name.
I do also like Marguerite, which is just a little bit different and unusual. I think either of these names would be a wonderful way to remember your grandma, and you've probably got some lovely family stories to tell your daughter about her great grandmother whose name she shares.

[magbob]

I have a Margaret nn Maggie. People tend to assume she is called Maddie when they first hear it. No regrets, except my father insists on her full name but can't spell it. He spells it Margerat. Maggie is 17 years old. I find it rude that he can't learn to spell it or even better, call her by her preferred Maagie!

[Downton57]

I know a Maggie and think it's a great name. Margot always makes me think of Margot Leadbetter. In the olden days Margarets were known as Maggie, Meg, Daisy or Peggy so you have plenty of nicknames to choose from.

[elenacampana]

My nana is called Margaret too and I’d love to use her name for a little girl. For me, it’s a bit too old fashioned, but I’d use Maggie or Peggy :-)

[Thecazelets]

I am of the generation and political persuasion that could never use it because of Thatcher, but I think it sits perfectly well alongside other names that have been revived in recent years. I do think Meg is a prettier diminutive than Maggie though.

[Frankiefarr]

My middle name. So severely bullied for it at school I changed my middle name by deedpoll as soon as I was old enough. I’ve never forgiven my mum for it!