Margot - is it too popular? Any alternatives?

[AvidTealFawn]

We like the name Margot and the nickname Maggie, but are conscious that it has really risen in popularity in recent years. Would welcome thoughts on whether you think it is too popular and risks becoming overdone?

And would be keen to hear any suggestions of classic pretty names that are similar but maybe slightly less popular!

Thanks!

I wouldn't say it's too popular as a parent with 3 under 8s I've never come across one.
If you like it use it.

I know of one girl, aged 18 months, butchers is spelt Margaux.

But hers

I don’t know any little ones called Margot -
it’s really lovely, and Maggie is a great nn.

It’s on the up but I wouldn’t say it’s too popular. I’m not sure if it’s peaked yet though so it could get more popular, I doubt top 10 though.
It’s also nicely different from the trend of all girls names ending in ‘a’, so it feels less popular as it doesn’t blend in with those, if that makes sense!

Everyone is going to have a different opinion on what "too popular" means to them so I don't think the answers are going to be super helpful. What does too popular mean to you?

If you want the stats Margot was 44th most popular in 2023, with 1025 girls named this. Even at this level, with about 250k girls born every year having more than one in a secondary school year is unlikely unless there is a specific local boom for the name, with maybe a few in the whole school. Popular names are not nearly as clustered as they once were. Although it is potentially on an upward curve, you can check out name popularity here: https://names.darkgreener.com/#margot

Forgot to add alternatives -

Eliza
Olive
May
Martha
Mabel
May
Heidi
Sadie
Miriam
Audrey
Nora
Hazel
Maren
Maisie

Use it, it's gorgeous. I haven't come across a Margot at the nursery I work at yet.

A bit try-hard. Female equivalent of Sage or Bodhi.

Margot, nn Margie

If you like Maggie, how about Margaret? I guarantee there are very few, and it's a lovely name.

Or Magaly?
Greta?

Names in the vein of Margot (retro/ granny chic) are all going to be currently trendy.

Some of the more clunky granny chic names are not trendy however -
Agatha
Thekla
Tirzah
Agnes
Ingrid
Imelda
Joan
Judith
Dinah
Beulah
Rita
Betty
Edith
Vera (this one slightly trendy)
Harriet (same here)
Frida
Marian
Imogene
Audrey

Thing is, 10 years ago I hadn't heard of a single Margot. If you pick based on what is popular today, it could explode in popularity tomorrow. Pick a name you like.

Personally, I prefer Maggie, but it's not my child.

I think its too popular sorry - loads and loads in London. Girls are Margot or Ottilie and boys are Arthur, Bertie or Teddy

Risks???

Name your baby the name you love.

If you like it just use it. There’s always going to be someone with the same name somewhere. I think over the last few years Margot has become more popular. I dislike Maggie (I think of Maggie from Simpsons when I hear it) but think Margot is a lovely name. Everyone will have different opinions but the only ones that matter are the baby’s parents

My DD (nearly 5)'s best friend at school is Margot and she's the only one I know. It's a super cute name (though not sure on Maggie as a nickname as it's such an ugly name compared to Margot!) If you love it, use it.

There are many in my DD's reception year it's by far the most common name. I'd find an alternative.

We pondered Margot, as a "full name" for Maggie.

We just went for Maggie in the end. Only met a hand full of both names in her 8 years.

Oldie here. My second name is Margot and for years I never admitted to it. Largely because Penelope Keith made it a joke name to have (if anyone here is old enough to remember! 🤣 ) - then Margaux Hemingway came along so I happily reclaimed it, spelling and all :-)

It would be too popular for me now, but we avoided anything in the top 100.

We have lots of friends who've named their children one of the top 5 most popular names of the year. I'd hate that but for them it's not important.

I think only you can decide if it's too popular for you.

My brain always reads Margot as Maggot and I just hate the sound of the name for some reason.
Margeaux is slightly better.

Magnolia- also nn Maggie
Pearl
Maisie

It's v popular round here and I think it's an ugly name. Rather geriatric sounding and looks like maggot.

"Too popular" means different things to different people. The only response that really matters is that of you and your partner, as only you know if it's "too popular" for you.

Personally I'm not bothered by statistical popularity if a name is historically popular and has stood the test of time. I'd be more bothered by a name which has leapt from nowhere, to become super popular over a short space of time. They risk being faddy and forever associated with a certain generation. Margot falls into this category. It has rocketed due to the success of Margot Robbie, and seems very now and trendy. It's not a name I would pick, personally, as I'm put off trend names, but if you love it other people's opinions shouldn't matter.

Presuming you might be too young to immediately think of the association with Thatcher?
Margo is nice, my great niece is called Margo.
Maggie not so much.

I'd say too popular because of Margot Robbie.

But I prefere Margot to Margaret if you want Maggie.
Alternatives
Agatha
Audrey
Natalie
Saffron