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Marigold

♀ Girl

Pronounced MAIR-ih-gohld /ˈmɛr.ɪ.ɡoʊld/High

Meaning: From the flower name, itself combining Mary (the Virgin Mary) and gold, referring to the golden-yellow flower historically associated with the Virgin Mary in medieval EnglandHigh

In 30 seconds: Marigold is a radiant, sun-drenched English flower name — 'Mary's gold' — worn by medieval devotion to the Virgin. Vintage-posh and full of color, it is rising fast.

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Origin HighEnglish, Latin

MeaningFrom the flower name, itself combining Mary (the Virgin Mary) and gold, referring to the golden-yellow flower historically associated with the Virgin Mary in medieval England

U.S. rank (2025)#590 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births498 girls (0.03% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 2,972

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

Marigold is an English floral name combining Mary (the Virgin Mary) and gold. The bright orange-yellow flower Calendula officinalis was called marigold in honor of the Virgin Mary, whose feast days in the medieval calendar coincided with the flower's blooming periods. The name was used occasionally as a given name in England from the 19th century.

Marigold gained wider public attention in the UK through Downton Abbey (in which a character is named Marigold) and through Princess Charlotte's middle name consideration. It has been rising in the U.S. as part of the broader vintage nature-name revival, alongside Violet, Poppy, and Clover.

Did you know? In medieval England, marigold flowers were called 'Mary's gold' and were frequently placed at shrines to the Virgin Mary — making Marigold one of the few flower names with a specific Marian devotional origin rather than a purely botanical one.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Marigold — etymology and historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

MaryGoldieMari

Nicknames

MariGoldieGoldy

Famous Bearers

★Marigold Frances Churchill (1918–1921)
Marigold Frances Churchill (1918–1921) was the fourth child of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Clementine Churchill. She died at age two from septicemia and is tenderly remembered as the Churchill family's beloved lost daughter, giving this flower name a poignant connection to one of history's most famous families.

If you like Marigold…

Violet— vintage English flower name with the same Victorian-era pedigree and current revival momentum

Primrose— English spring flower name with the same vintage-posh, whimsical character

Clover— nature name with the same meadow-bright charm and modern botanical appeal

Rosemary— three-syllable herb-name with the same Marian devotional history and vintage warmth

Explore names like Marigold

By themeenglish nature three-syllable flower-name vintage-revival marian

By meaningFlower Gold

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Marigold mean?

Marigold combines Mary (the Virgin Mary) and gold, referring to the golden flower historically offered at shrines to the Virgin in medieval England.

How do you pronounce Marigold?

It is said MAIR-ih-gohld — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Marigold a boy or girl name?

Marigold is exclusively a girls' name.

How popular is Marigold?

Marigold is a rising name in the U.S. and UK, part of the vintage flower-name revival that includes Violet, Poppy, and Primrose.