| Margaret | Helen | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Pearl | Torch, light |
| Origin | Greek | Greek |
| Gender | Girl | Girl |
| Pronunciation | MAR-gret | HEL-un |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1880 | 1880 |
| Peak year | 1921 (28,468) | 1918 (36,148) |
| In 2025 | 2,436 | 668 |
| Trend | Steady | Steady |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Margaret | Helen |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 13,477 | 4,347 |
| 2010s | 20,036 | 7,585 |
| 2000s | 23,919 | 8,847 |
| 1990s | 31,294 | 8,403 |
| 1980s | 30,352 | 8,413 |
| 1970s | 31,947 | 11,476 |
| 1960s | 81,870 | 29,099 |
| 1950s | 149,582 | 57,580 |
| 1940s | 173,028 | 90,742 |
| 1930s | 157,369 | 140,426 |
| 1920s | 245,011 | 290,404 |
| 1910s | 189,234 | 248,154 |
| 1900s | 57,919 | 69,428 |
| 1890s | 37,937 | 37,802 |
| 1880s | 21,799 | 11,496 |
Margaret comes from the Greek margaritēs, “pearl.” Borne by saints and by queens across Europe, it has generated an unusually rich crop of nicknames, from Maggie and Meg to Peggy and Greta.
Helen comes from Greek and is traditionally linked to “torch” or “light,” from a root meaning “shining.” Helen of Troy was, in Homer, the face “that launched a thousand ships.”
Margaret is more popular than Helen today: about 2,436 US babies were given the name Margaret in 2025, compared with 668 named Helen.
Margaret means Pearl (Greek origin), while Helen means Torch, light (Greek origin).
In US records, Margaret first appears in 1880 and Helen in 1880, so Margaret has the longer recorded history.