Meg is a name of Greek origin, derived from the name Margaret or its variations such as Margarita and Margarida. The name Margaret is composed of two elements: "marge" which means "pearl," and "ari" which means "to shine." Therefore, Meg can be interpreted to mean "shining pearl."
The use of Meg as an independent given name began in the Middle Ages when it was used as a pet form of Margaret. It became popular during the Victorian era and has remained in use ever since.
Notably, Meg is also the nickname of one of the main characters in Shakespeare's play "Cymbeline," suggesting that the name has been used in literature for centuries. Additionally, the author Louisa May Alcott used the name Meg for one of the four March sisters in her classic novel "Little Women."
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Meg or its variants. For example, Saint Margaret of Antioch was a Christian martyr in the fourth century, and Queen Margaret I of Denmark reigned from 1375 to 1412.
In summary, Meg is a charming and historic name with a direct connection to the Greek word for pearl and the Latin word to shine. Its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages, and it has been used in literature and by notable figures throughout history.
The name Meg has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past eight decades. In the early years, from 1941 to 1958, there was a steady increase in the number of babies named Meg each year, reaching a peak of 196 births in 1959.
However, this trend did not continue as the popularity of the name began to decline. The highest number of births recorded after 1959 was 260 in 1962 and 1963 combined. After this period, the number of babies named Meg decreased significantly over the following decades.
Between 1976 and 2005, there were fewer than 50 births per year on average, with some years recording less than 20 births. The highest recorded number during these years was in 1995, with 107 births.
Since 2005, the popularity of the name Meg has continued to decline significantly. Between 2006 and 2022, there were fewer than 30 births per year on average, with some years recording less than 10 births.
In total, over the eight decades from 1941 to 2022, there have been 5320 babies named Meg born in the United States. Despite its decline in popularity in recent years, the name Meg still holds a place in history as one of the many unique and memorable names given to newborns across the country.