Margaret...

[Sybiltrelawney]

Expecting dd3 and starting to think about names. Dds 1 and 2 are Susanna (Susie) and Eleanor.

I love the name Margaret - it was the name of a lovely elderly Welsh lady who lived next door to my family when I was growing up. She was pretty much a surrogate grandparent, and I would love to give a child of mine her name.

I realise that it's not a popular name, and that many people will think it's dated/ugly, but to me it's classic and beautiful. I also love the nickname Maggie.

I actually wanted to call dd1 or dd2 Margaret, but chickened out both times - I'm worried I'll regret it if I don't use it this time round, given that this is definitely our final dc!

However, I don't want to saddle a child with a name that will lead to teasing or that she will dislike. And I know she'll almost certainly be the only Margaret in a class full of Lily's, Eva's, Ava's, Evie's etc.

I'm therefore wondering if it would be better as a middle name?

Other names we like are:
Beatrice
Josephine (Josie)
Tabitha
Eugenie

If we go with Margaret as a first name, then the middle name would probably be either Eugenie or Josephine.

I know a little margaret.

Like all your list except eugenie.

Margaret is a lovely name with lots of great shorts, and is a billion times nicer than some of the old fashioned names so beloved of MN like Olive, Joan and Winifred.

I love Margaret. My mil is one, and is wonderful. She's always and forever supportive and cheerful and incredibly intelligent (born in the wrong era for that). I'd think of all these qualities if I had a Margaret.

I know a Maggie too and she's a delightful young woman, the name suits so well.

Marguerite is the French version of Margaret. Margot is a short version.

Don’t do it.... baby Margaret... just no. It’s sooo old fashioned

Lovely name. Nn Maggie is super cute

A few under 5 Margaret and Margots around here. Can't say I think it's a beautiful name and i find Maggie a bit coarse sounding, sorry!

I know a lass who’s around my age (35) and she’s called Margaret and she is so beautiful

Plus I went to school with two Maireads...I think that’s the Gaelic version of Margaret??

Anyway....whilst I can see the logic i wouldn’t choose it for my DD as it brings to mind auld spinsters arguing over the parish council newsletter.

Sorry.

I love Margaret, and there are tons of lovely nickname options.

I also think Margaret will make a bit of a comeback because Vanessa Kirby was so beautiful and glamorous as Princess Margaret in The Crown.

I don't think it'll ever be the next generation's Olivia though, thank goodness.

I remember my Mum saying Grace was such an old-fashioned, dowdy name when she heard someone being called it (this would've been about 20/25 years ago) because the last time it was popular, it would've been women older than her being called it. I was

For younger people, Margaret won't have the same connotations.

Yes, when DD was born in the nineties I considered giving her the middle name Evelyn, after my grandmother (known as Eve for short) but then thought 'Oh no I can't really , it's too old ladyish'. Now there are Eves, Evies and Evelyns all over the place!

I had an ancient great aunt Grace, so I too sort of saw it as 'old lady'. But then there was Grace Kelly.

I also think it is a beautiful classic and it is a definite advantage that it’s not being overused as it will be much more unique. It actually has made be wonder what inspired the Queen Mother to use it for one of her daughters? I think the Queen Moher has Margarite as a middle name? I imagine she was looking at royal names.

I also love Maggie, Magda and Mags. I just think it’s a lovely name x

These threads just turn into an opportunity for people to be insufferably rude about each other's choices. We all like different things. None of us is right or wrong. Personally I love Margaret and Maggie, but what do I know?

It's a family name and I've always found it quite harsh sounding, it depends a lot on your surname though. I prefer Marguerite and really dislike Margot which seems trendy.

The biggest advantage of Margaret is it's almost unparalleled nickname potential - Daisy, Meg and Greta are my favourites - which you miss out on if it's a middle name. It also works well internationally. I've seen it mentioned a few times on here and think it will make a comeback along with other underused classics like Frances.

Eugenie - too associated with Fergie's duaghter
Beatrice -gorgeous but seems very popular atm
Josephine - nice, softer sounding than Margaret but with less interesting nn options

I'd go for it and it works well with your other names. I know a Maggie who is around 7 now - presumed her parents loved The Simpsons!

I think Margaret has quite an ugly sound, very guttural. Maggie is lovely though!

Margaret is very classic. I like it. If you have any Irish links, Mairéad is Margaret (pronounced Maarade).

(It's more Mar-ADE that Maarade for many of us, Ihope. The fada is on the second syllable.)