Margaret

For the past month or so, I have been loving the name Margaret. I would really appreciate some second opinions on it.

Margaret's peak popularity was in the 1910s as number four. Since then, it has been in decline to its current state of one hundred eighty, most likely because it sounded like an old lady name. Before that it was most likely considered a timeless classic akin to Elizabeth or Mary, but now it gets unconsciously lumped with Edna and Maxine. (No offense if you like Edna or Maxine.) Which brings me to my first question: can a name hop categories? And could it hop back?

My other question about Margaret is about the nicknames. There are three I really like and am undecided about:
Maggie - one of the most classic nicknames around, but I see baggy sometimes when I look at it
Maisie - great, but not as classic as Maggie, and I'm not sure it would work on someone over ten years old
Greta - beautiful and spirited, but doesn't have the 'm' sound of Maggie and Maisie.

Any thoughts on these things or the name in general would be great.

I voted for Maisie. I'm super excited that this a nn for Margaret. I think Maisie is too cute but would also work later in life.

I love all three nn's, but Maisie is my favorite. I just love the name Margaret!

I absolutely LOVE the name Margaret, but if I were to use it, I would use it in its entirety rather than use any of the nicknames. It is too pretty to spoil. (I have a daughter called Catherine who is always Catherine - so that is just my way, I suppose).

Great choice!

I voted for Maggie.
I think it is sassy and sweet.

I like all three nicknames, but voted for Greta because its a little more unusual but very pretty. Maisie's a little cutesy for me, but well, very cute! And Maggie is as classic as Margaret in my opinion - will always love it I think!

I have to note, though, that I think of Margaret as very much in line with Catherine and Elizabeth as far as classics go - it may not be quite as popular, but its still WAY ahead of Edna and Maxine (which aren't even in the top 1000)!

Good point, redridinghood. I love Margaret in its full form as well and probably would only like an occasional nickname.

I don't like Maisie, way too cutesy, doesn't work on anyone over 13.

Greta I do like, it sounds very old Hollywood to me. Maggie, however, is my favorite. It has a brogue, and sounds fun and free-spirited!

I love Greta, but I don't feel it as a nickname for Margaret. I don't love Maggie, it used to be very "hip" to be a Maggie (at least on tv or in the movies) a decade or two ago. Fun, not exactly crunchy, kind of goofy. It seemed like it was going to take Margaret right out of its slump - a baby in the daycare where I worked in the early 90s was Maggie, her father said (really proudly), not Margaret. Maisie is my least favorite, but I say go for it. It seems like what people are doing these days, reviving the popular nicknames of a romanticized era. Maisie sounds as distant from Margaret to me as Peggy. It's not unpleasant, it just doesn't jump out to me as obvious. Plus it is like Maize, corn. A very rural imagery, fields and fields of cornstalks, each with their own little ears.

I really do love Margaret and wonder why people don't hear it sounding as lovely as Katherine or Elizabeth. I love it better than either of those names, in full.

I would also consider Margie (either with a hard G or a soft J-sounding G), and I like Meg.

I think that Margaret is beautiful! :-) It feels elegant and timeless, and I just love the nicknames. I voted for Maisie. (I really love Daisy, too.) :-)

Good luck! :-)