Meg
Meg is a girl's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Pearl.
Origin and history
Meg is a traditional English short form of Margaret, which ultimately derives from the Greek word 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'. It has long been used both as a familiar nickname and as an independent given name. While historically popular, it is now given relatively rarely as an official full name in the United States.
Popularity in the United States
5,321 babies in the United States have been named Meg since 1880. It ranks #2368 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2069.
States where it is most popular
- NY (18 %)
- CA (13.4 %)
- PA (11.5 %)
- IL (9.3 %)
- OH (8 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 0 |
| 1890-1900 | 0 |
| 1900-1910 | 0 |
| 1910-1920 | 0 |
| 1920-1930 | 0 |
| 1930-1940 | 0 |
| 1940-1950 | 97 |
| 1950-1960 | 857 |
| 1960-1970 | 1,343 |
| 1970-1980 | 658 |
| 1980-1990 | 389 |
| 1990-2000 | 846 |
| 2000-2010 | 878 |
| 2010-2019 | 221 |
| 2020-2029 | 32 |
Famous people named Meg
- Meg Ryan: Actress, Producer
- Meg White: Musician, Drummer
- Meg Cabot: Author, Novelist
Fun facts
- Meg March is the eldest sister in Louisa May Alcott's classic 1868 novel Little Women.
- Meg originated in medieval England as a common pet form of Margaret, alongside Maggie and Peg.