Marguerite is a name of French origin, derived from the Latin word "margarita", which means "pearl". This name has been popular throughout history and has been associated with several notable figures.
The name Marguerite was first used in France during the Middle Ages and gained popularity among the nobility. It was often given to daughters of royal or wealthy families as a symbol of purity and beauty. One of the most famous bearers of this name is Marguerite de Navarre, who was a queen consort of Hungary and the sister of Francis I of France.
Marguerite also has strong ties to literature and art. In French literature, there are several references to the name Marguerite, such as in "La Dame aux Camélias" by Alexandre Dumas, fils, where the protagonist is named Marguerite. Additionally, the famous poem "Le Corbeau et le Renard" by Jean de La Fontaine features a character named Marguerite.
In English-speaking countries, the name Marguerite has been used since the early modern period but has never been as popular as it was in France. However, it has still been given to many girls throughout history and continues to be used today. Some famous English-speaking individuals with this name include Marguerite Yourcenar, a French-American writer who won the Prix Femina for her novel "Memoirs of Hadrian", and Marguerite Gachet, the daughter of Dr. Paul Gachet who was friends with Vincent van Gogh.
Overall, the name Marguerite has a rich history and is associated with elegance, grace, and beauty. It is a unique and distinctive name that has been worn by many remarkable women throughout history.
The name Marguerite appears to have been moderately popular among parents choosing names for their daughters in the United States during the early-to-mid 20th century. Between 1916 and 1958, there were a total of 78 babies born with this name.
The peak years for Marguerite births appear to be between 1919 and 1923, with nine births in 1919 and eight births in 1923. However, even during these peak years, Marguerite was still not among the most popular names. For example, in 1919 there were over 60,000 babies born with the name Helen that same year.
After 1958, the popularity of the name Marguerite seems to have declined significantly. According to data from the Social Security Administration, Marguerite has not ranked among the top 1,000 most popular names for girls in the United States since at least 1967.
Despite this decline in popularity, Marguerite remains a classic and elegant name with a rich history. It's possible that we may see a resurgence in its popularity in future years as parents look to name their daughters after timeless and unique names like Marguerite.