Meg

  • [ MEG ]
  • English
Medieval diminutive of MARGARET.

MARGARET   female   English
Derived from Latin Margarita, which was from Greek μαργαριτης (margarites) meaning "pearl", probably ultimately a borrowing from Sanskrit मञ्यरी (manyari). Saint Margaret, the patron of expectant mothers, was martyred at Antioch in the 4th century. Later legends told of her escape from a dragon, with which she was often depicted in medieval art. The saint was popular during the Middle Ages, and her name has been widely used in the Christian world.

Other saints by this name include a queen of Scotland and a princess of Hungary. It was also borne by Queen Margaret I of Denmark, who united Denmark, Sweden, and Norway in the 14th century. Famous literary bearers include American writer Margaret Mitchell (1900-1949), the author of 'Gone with the Wind', and Canadian writer Margaret Atwood (1939-).
FULL FORMS
ENGLISH: Margaret, Margaretta, Margery, Marjorie, Marjory
EQUIVALENTS
AFRIKAANS: Retha
ARMENIAN: Margarid, Margarit
BULGARIAN: Margarita
CATALAN: Margarida
CROATIAN: Margareta
CZECH: Markéta
DANISH: Grete, Grethe, Margareta, Margarethe, Margit, Margrethe, Merete, Meta, Mette, Rita
DUTCH: Greet, Greetje, Griet, Margareta, Margaretha, Margreet, Margriet
ENGLISH: Greta, Gretchen, Gretta, Jorie, Madge, Mae, Maggie, Mamie, Marge, Margie, Margo, Marje, May, Mayme, Midge, Peg, Peggie, Peggy, Retha, Rita
ESTONIAN: Maret, Margit
FINNISH: Maarit, Margareeta, Margareta, Marketta, Reeta, Reetta
FRENCH: Margaux, Margot, Marguerite
GALICIAN: Margarida
GERMAN: Greta, Gretchen, Grete, Margareta, Margarete, Margaretha, Margarethe, Margrit, Meta, Rita
HEBREW: Margalit, Margalita
HUNGARIAN: Gréta, Margaréta, Margit, Margita, Rita
ICELANDIC: Gréta, Margrét
IRISH: Mairéad
ITALIAN: Margherita, Rita
LATE ROMAN: Margarita
LIMBURGISH: Greet, Margreet
LITHUANIAN: Margarita
MANX: Margaid, Paaie
MEDIEVAL ENGLISH: Meggy
NORWEGIAN: Grete, Grethe, Margareta, Margit, Margrete, Margrethe, Marit, Marita, Meta, Mette, Rita
OCCITAN: Margarida
POLISH: Gosia, Małgorzata, Małgosia, Marzena
PORTUGUESE: Margarida, Rita
ROMANIAN: Margareta
RUSSIAN: Margarita
SCOTTISH: Maighread, Mairead, Maisie, Marsaili, Mysie, Peigi
SLOVAK: Margita, Markéta
SLOVENE: Margareta, Marjeta
SPANISH: Margarita, Rita
SWEDISH: Greta, Margareta, Margit, Marit, Marita, Märta, Merit, Meta, Rita
WELSH: Mared, Marged, Mererid
DIMINUTIVES AND SHORT FORMS
ENGLISH: Maegan, Maeghan, Meagan, Meaghan, Megan, Meghan
GERMAN: Gretel
WELSH: Megan