Marga

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAR-guh /ˈmɑːr.ɡə/Medium

Meaning: Marga is a clipped form of Margaret or Margarita, both descending from Greek 'margarites', meaning 'pearl'. Common as a nickname in German- and Spanish-speaking families, it was sometimes registered as a full first name in its own right.Low

In 30 seconds: Marga is a girl's name, a short form of Margaret or Margarita meaning 'pearl'. It runs through US records from 1914, peaking around 1960 (said MAR-guh).

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Origin MediumGerman, Greek, Spanish

MeaningMarga is a clipped form of Margaret or Margarita, both descending from Greek 'margarites', meaning 'pearl'. Common as a nickname in German- and Spanish-speaking families, it was sometimes registered as a full first name in its own right.

U.S. rank (1993)#14872 ↘ Falling

1993 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1960

Total births (all-time)≈ 343

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Marga is a compact form of Margaret and Margarita, the great 'pearl' names of Greek origin. It traveled with German and Spanish families and appears in American records as both a nickname and a stand-alone given name.

It stayed rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year at its 1960 peak, and faded from records by the 1990s. Someone named Marga at mid-century would be a grandmother today, while the fuller Margaret and Margarita have proven far more lasting.

Did you know? Marga carries the same 'pearl' meaning as some of the most enduring names in Europe, from Margaret to Marguerite to Margarita, all rooted in the one Greek word.

Overall data confidence 40%

References - Marga — Short form of Margaret/Margarita (Greek 'pearl'); German and Spanish usage; rare US girl usage

Variations

MargaretMargaritaMargarethe

Nicknames

MargGreta

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Marga…

Greta— a fellow short form in the Margaret family

Marta— a like compact Continental girl's name

Margot— a related French short form of Margaret

Marge— another everyday short form of Margaret

Explore names like Marga

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marga mean?

It is a German and Spanish short form of Margaret or Margarita, from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl'.

How do you pronounce Marga?

It is said MAR-guh /ˈmɑːr.ɡə/ - two syllables.

Is Marga a boy or girl name?

Marga is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Marga?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen girls a year even at its peak around the early nineteen-sixties.