Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
In English use, Peg is a short form of Margaret. Margaret has been associated with Greek and Hebrew naming traditions. The precise derivation is uncertain.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Peg is a diminutive of Margaret. In Yola usage, Peg is a diminutive of Margraate.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1913. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Peg through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 841
- 0 boys · 841 girls
- Most popular year
- 1957
- 43 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 1968. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 43 in 1957. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,422 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Peg’s family of names
In English usage, Peg is a diminutive of Margaret. In English usage, Peg has a related form in Peggy. Peg is a short form of Margaret.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Peg has relatives in 4 languages.
8 related names in 4 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 5
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 5
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Peg
- Peg EntwistleBritish actress (1908-1932)
- Peg PhillipsAmerican actress (1918-2002)
- Peg WoffingtonIrish actress (1720-1760)
- Peg ParnevikSwedish-born American singer-songwriterborn 1995
- Peg Hilliasactress (1914-1960)
- Peg LaCentraAmerican singer and actor (1910-1996)
- Peg MurrayAmerican actress and singer (1924-2020)
- Peg BattyNew Zealand cricketer (1921-2008)
- Peg DixonAmerican actress (1923-2015)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Peg, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Perri
“one who travels; a wanderer”
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Pennie
Pennie is a surname.
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Patrice
“of noble descent” · “patrician”
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Paulett
>99% girls
Sheryl
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>99% girls
Meryl
“resembling a blackbird” · “of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Rennie
“one who has been reborn” · “one who is helpful; generous”
14% boys · 86% girls