Marge
A girl's name with 3,784 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A diminutive of the female given names Marjorie or Margaret.
Marge is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive of Margaret or Marjorie, both from the Greek margaritēs, meaning 'pearl.' Marge was one of the shortened forms of Margaret used in the early-to-mid 20th century alongside Meg, Peggy, and Maggie.
Marge Simpson — the blue-haired matriarch of The Simpsons — has made Marge one of the most recognized fictional name-bearers of the past three decades: patient, loving, and quietly formidable.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Marge is a girl's name with over a century of recorded use (1889–1976). American naming is uniquely syncretic — it borrows from dozens of traditions, invents freely, and recombines elements in ways that make strict etymological tracing difficult for many names.
Though no longer in the top 1,000, Marge’s 3,784 recorded births mean it has left a mark. Every name carries the accumulated identity of the people who have worn it — and Marge has decades of that history.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Marge has 81+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1889.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 22 | #7394 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 283 | #3212 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 406 | #1658 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 820 | #925 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 701 | #843 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 783 | #844 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 550 | #864 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 152 | #1004 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 61 | #1201 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 6 | #1223 | — |
The Story of Marge
A Silent Generation name
Peaking in 1941, Marge is an elegant vintage name. Girls named Marge are most likely born between 1931 and 1951.
How rare is Marge?
With 3,784 total births on record, Marge remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1889, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1940s with 820 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Marge by the numbers
- Would fill 79 school buses
- Meeting one Marge per day would take 10.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(81 years, 1889–1976)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 5 | #10217 |
| 1971 | 9 | #5830 |
| 1970 | 8 | #6134 |
| 1969 | 8 | #5771 |
| 1968 | 12 | #4136 |
| 1967 | 14 | #3584 |
| 1966 | 6 | #6271 |
| 1965 | 21 | #2720 |
| 1964 | 18 | #3061 |
| 1963 | 31 | #2156 |
| 1962 | 59 | #1452 |
| 1961 | 55 | #1528 |
| 1960 | 59 | #1442 |
| 1959 | 57 | #1430 |
| 1958 | 61 | #1359 |
| 1957 | 50 | #1521 |
| 1956 | 34 | #1855 |
| 1955 | 37 | #1717 |
| 1954 | 30 | #1930 |
| 1953 | 44 | #1481 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marge a boy's or girl's name?
When was Marge most popular?
How popular is the name Marge?
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1889–1976