Margaret vs. Marguerite, for nn Daisy?

Girl Names
1

My girl is coming any day now, and I’d love to get some opinions on [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] vs. [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f].

[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] has been the frontrunner for a long time–it’s my middle name and my grandmother’s name, and no other name has been able to rival it in family significance. I love its classic style, its unique sound, and the fact that it’s strong but not a feminization of a male name.

I also love its myriad of nicknames, and my very favorite is the non-intuitive pun-nickname [name_f]Daisy[/name_f].

Entre: [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]. Since [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is the [name_m]French[/name_m] word for daisy (or a type of daisy) the nickname explanation would be slightly simpler. I also like that it’s a little more sparkly and unusual than [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], particularly since our last name is the rather staid and prosaic Scandinavian Ols3n. (Though I have [name_m]French[/name_m] ancestry, and a [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] in the family tree–though there are also oodles of Margarets.) I’ve never truly loved the combo of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] Ols3n, and [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] Ols3n is more appealing to me. It strikes me as having more of a balance between feminine and strong, while [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is more on the strong side.

So, here I am: I’m having signs of labor and suddenly [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is capturing my imagination!

Here are my questions/concerns:

  1. I really want to avoid a time-stamped name. [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] seems riskier that way, though it’s currently very rare. What do you think the odds are that [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] would become time-stamped?
  2. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you prefer [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] Ols3n or [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] Ols3n?
  3. [name_m]Will[/name_m] I regret not using the exact honor name, or is it nice to have a name that’s truly your child’s? (Interested to see if anyone has experience with this choice: going for the exact honor name vs. a variation.)
  4. [name_f]Do[/name_f] you think using [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] would make the nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] an easier sell?

Oh: the middle name will be [name_f]Frances[/name_f], for my grandfather, either way.

Thank you so much for your thoughts!!

2

Anyone…[name_m]Bueller[/name_m]?

3
  1. I don’t see Margeurite being popular any time soon, but to me it’s already time-stamped as 1920’s.
  2. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_m]Olsen[/name_m]
  3. I can’t say if you’ll regret it. Margeurite is a variation of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], so maybe that’s enough.
  4. [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] works for either variation.

I prefer [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] to [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f]. Something about [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is harsher and harder to wear than [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is gorgeous.

4

Ummm I have the same dilemma with the name [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. It is an honour name so do I go with [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] or a variation like [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]? I think I’ve come to the conclusion that it has to be [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. It is my middle name after my 2 grandmothers so it will be my daughter’s middle name too (if I have another daughter) :slight_smile:
To answer your question I prefer [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] [name_m]OLsen[/name_m].

5

I prefer [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] for a FN. As much as I love [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], too many people see a foreign name and turn their brains off. As my mother can attest, watching people struggle over your name for your entire life can be worse when your name is just a slightly different version of a very common name. Now, for the questions.

  1. It is hard to say, but I would say there is a greater risk that [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] would be time-stamped. A name doesn’t have to become very popular for it to be associated with a certain time period if its usage was practically nonexistent before.
  2. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] (see above)
  3. I’m not a fan of honor names at all, to be honest.
  4. Nope. Any NN that people consider a name in its own right is going to be a tough, but not impossible, sell.
6

I have to go against the consensus and say [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f]! I have both versions on my girl’s list, and both are lovely. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] Ols3n is a bit dry for my taste, and I think that [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] adds a little sparkle. [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] might be a little too solid to fit whoever your daughter becomes. However, though [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] would be more justifiable with the nn [name_f]Daisy[/name_f], but I see no reason why [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] shouldn’t work. As far as honoring the many Margarets in your family, I don’t think that [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f] is straying very far from the original at all. But if worst comes to worst, just choose whichever name you would be saddest to leave behind :slight_smile:

7

Thanks for the feedback, all! I’m feeling like [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Frances[/name_f] is a little dry for me, too…I’m hoping that once we see her the name will just come clear!