Midge

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Midge

Pronounced MIJ /ˈmɪdʒ/High

Meaning: Midge is an affectionate short form of Margaret or Marjorie, both from the Greek margarites, 'pearl'. As a playful nickname it also echoes the small word 'midge', lending it a cute, diminutive charm.Medium

In 30 seconds: Midge is a snappy pet form of Margaret and Marjorie, from the Greek for 'pearl'. A breezy mid-century nickname-name, it stayed a small, spirited rarity.

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Origin MediumGreek, English

MeaningMidge is an affectionate short form of Margaret or Marjorie, both from the Greek margarites, 'pearl'. As a playful nickname it also echoes the small word 'midge', lending it a cute, diminutive charm.

U.S. rank (1974)#9690 ↘ Falling

1974 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1953

Total births (all-time)≈ 805

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

Midge is a pet form of Margaret or Marjorie, from the Greek margarites, 'pearl'. Short, jaunty nicknames like Midge were sometimes recorded as given names in the mid twentieth century, when informal forms felt fresh and modern.

It was always a minor choice, appearing at a few dozen girls a year with a faint peak around 1953 before fading by the 1970s. Midge reads as a plucky mid-century nickname-name - familiar from characters in film and fashion - and has stayed firmly of its era.

Did you know? Margaret has spun off an astonishing range of nicknames - Peg, Madge, Marge, Midge, Greta, Daisy - all, at root, meaning 'pearl'.

Overall data confidence 60%

References - Midge / Margaret — Greek margarites 'pearl'; pet form of Margaret/Marjorie

Variations

MadgeMargeMargaretMarjorie

Nicknames

MidgieMij

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Midge…

Marge— a sister nickname of Margaret

Madge— another Margaret pet form

Margie— shares the Margaret root and vintage feel

Peggy— a comparable jaunty Margaret nickname

Explore names like Midge

By themerare vintage greek short-form

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Midge mean?

Midge is a pet form of Margaret or Marjorie, from the Greek word margarites, meaning 'pearl'.

How do you pronounce Midge?

It's said MIJ /ˈmɪdʒ/ - one syllable, rhyming with 'ridge'.

Is Midge a boy or girl name?

Midge is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Midge?

Midge has always been rare, a spirited mid-century nickname for Margaret that never became widely used.