Midge
A girl's name of Greek origin with 805 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name of rare usage, variant of Madge.
Midge is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a diminutive of Madge — itself a pet form of Margaret, from the Greek margarites, meaning 'pearl.' Midge follows the same rhyming substitution tradition that produced Peg from Meg and Nan from Ann.
Midge has the zippy, mid-century American quality of a nickname that became a standalone name. It carries associations with 1950s and 1960s American pop culture — Barbie's best friend in the doll line was named Midge — giving it a cheerful, nostalgic warmth.
EtymologyShow more
Phonetically, Midge belongs to a cluster of names characterized by their open, approachable ending — ending on a vowel softens the overall impression. At one syllable, it has a punchy, memorable cadence that makes an immediate impression.
Within the Greek naming tradition, names with similar sound structures often share underlying etymological patterns. Exploring Greek names on this site may surface connections that illuminate Midge’s linguistic neighborhood.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Midge has 51+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1916.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 17 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 170 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 259 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 209 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 64 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 58 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 28 | — |
The Story of Midge
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1953, Midge is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Midge are most likely born between 1943 and 1963.
How rare is Midge?
With 805 total births on record, Midge remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1916, gained momentum through the mid-century, peaked in the 1950s with 259 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Midge by the numbers
- Would fill 17 school buses
- Meeting one Midge per day would take 2.2 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(51 years, 1916–1974)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 5 | #9690 |
| 1972 | 6 | #7897 |
| 1971 | 6 | #7986 |
| 1969 | 6 | #7174 |
| 1968 | 11 | #4404 |
| 1967 | 16 | #3282 |
| 1966 | 14 | #3489 |
| 1965 | 18 | #3015 |
| 1964 | 24 | #2580 |
| 1963 | 17 | #3145 |
| 1962 | 19 | #2888 |
| 1961 | 23 | #2583 |
| 1960 | 22 | #2624 |
| 1959 | 21 | #2570 |
| 1958 | 20 | #2634 |
| 1957 | 23 | #2398 |
| 1956 | 29 | #2037 |
| 1955 | 19 | #2611 |
| 1954 | 31 | #1903 |
| 1953 | 31 | #1817 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Midge a boy's or girl's name?
When was Midge most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1916–1974