I’m back with another nickname conundrum. My husband and I have finally solidified our name choice for [name_u]Baby[/name_u] Girl #2: [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] (family name), sister to [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] ([name_f]Tillie[/name_f]) [name_f]May[/name_f]. We both really love the name [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], think that it pairs nicely with [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and has wonderful nickname options - which for us is a MUST!
With our first, we both loved the name [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] and also the nickname [name_f]Tillie[/name_f]. We established the nickname early and she has never been called [name_f]Maddy[/name_f] (which neither of us care for). She now goes by [name_f]Matilda[/name_f], [name_f]Tilda[/name_f], [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f].
My question is for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]: I’d like to choose a nickname right from the start because I like some better than others. I know [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] is a common nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], and while I do like it - there are others I like more. At first I REALLY loved [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], which is the Scottish diminutive for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. And while I still like it a lot, I’m afraid it’s starting to sound trendy or more similar to other common nicknames. But I do love how [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] sound together - such a sweet sib set!
My husband and I both really love [name_f]Margot[/name_f], but doesn’t sound as “young” to me as [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]. Still could be used down the line though.
But most recently, I’ve really started liking [name_f]Greta[/name_f] as a nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] - which uses the second part of the name. I think it’s super cute, not very common and goes nicely with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f]. I don’t like the sound of [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] as much, but in that case we probably wouldn’t use her middle as much as we do with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f].
I just feel like if I go with [name_f]Greta[/name_f], it would be hard to throw in [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] intermittently because they are so different sounding.
So what do you like best for a nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]?
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]
[name_f]Margot[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f]
something else?
Thanks, as always, for the input! I’m due in three weeks so all opinions are much appreciated!
Thanks, as always, for the input! I’m due in three weeks so all opinions are much appreciated![/QUOTE]
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is such a beautiful name.
I understand about [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. Nice enough name, but I too much prefer the three you are considering nicknaming [name_f]Margaret[/name_f].
The cool thing is that others will nickname her throughout life, so she may easily end up being called all three plus [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] to boot.
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] is sweet, but seems to be becoming very popular. I like it best on a little girl or a dog.
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] is elegant and does sound more like a grown woman.
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] is gorgeous for any age.
I love [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] and [name_f]Greta[/name_f], not so much [name_f]Margot[/name_f]. I agree [name_f]Margot[/name_f] sounds more grown-up. I’d start with [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], but throw in the odd [name_f]Greta[/name_f] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and just see what takes off. As you say, you call [name_f]Matilda[/name_f] by several different names so you can have a few options going. But if it comes down to one, I vote for [name_f]Maisie[/name_f].
I’m in love with [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f]. My second choice would be [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]–I think it goes much better with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] than [name_f]Greta[/name_f] or [name_f]Margot[/name_f].
I’m not a big fan of [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], but [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] and [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] make an extremely cute sibset.
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] is my favourite nn for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. I love it. I would use it when not using [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], or maybe when she gets older if she finds [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] to be more for a little girl that for a teenager.
I definitely like [name_f]Greta[/name_f] the best of your choices. I’ve never been fond of [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], and [name_f]Margot[/name_f] doesn’t sound like a nickname and also just isn’t a name I care for. I think [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Greta[/name_f] is a really cute pair. My personal favorite nickname for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is [name_f]Meg[/name_f].
My favourite nn for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. It is great for all ages and is nice with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] although I would choose [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]'s nn based on your favourite rather than what goes best with her sister’s name. Also I would only call her by the nn that you choose rather than calling her by one and then thinking that she’ll be called something else when she’s older because usually when we know a person by one name, that is what sticks. All your options are lovely, but [name_f]Greta[/name_f] stands out for me.
I adore [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. I like [name_f]Margot[/name_f] as well, and I think it would be fine for a little girl. That said, [name_f]Greta[/name_f] is still my favorite, and I think you’re right that all 3 could be confusing with such different sounds. I’d stick with [name_f]Greta[/name_f]/Gret. [name_f]Lovely[/name_f] name choices! Good luck!
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f]'s NMS & I’m not as fond of [name_f]Greta[/name_f] as I am of [name_f]Margot[/name_f]. I agree w/PPs who say that [name_f]Margot[/name_f] sounds more adult than little girl, but I think if you were to use that it would seem like your little girl pretty quickly & age nicely w/her.
Other options:
[name_f]Daisy[/name_f]: I don’t know if you’re a [name_m]Little[/name_m] Women fan, but this is the nickname of [name_f]Meg[/name_f]'s daughter, whose formal name is [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]. [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] is adorable for a little girl, [name_f]IMO[/name_f]! There’s even a song from the '70s-era band [name_u]America[/name_u] that references “[name_f]Daisy[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f].” [name_f]Daisy[/name_f] is also tied into a variant of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Marguerite[/name_f], the [name_m]French[/name_m] form of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], & the word that the [name_m]French[/name_m] use for the flower daisy.
[name_f]Meg[/name_f]/[name_f]Meggie[/name_f]: I’m not a fan of [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] myself, but perhaps [name_f]Meg[/name_f]/[name_f]Meggie[/name_f] would work better?
[name_f]Margy[/name_f]/[name_f]Margi[/name_f]/[name_f]Marji[/name_f]: The first two are mid-20th-century nns for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]; the last spelling is from a co-worker’s wife.
There are additional nns listed on the BehindtheName entry for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f]…my favorite w/[name_f]Janie[/name_f] is [name_f]Mamie[/name_f]. There are also a couple of dozen non-English variants of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] where you might find something appealing.
I’m not a big fan of [name_f]Greta[/name_f]. And, I have to disagree with the majority of posters; I do not think of it as a little girl’s name, but more of an adult’s name. I also think [name_f]Margot[/name_f] is very cute on a little girl, especially with the “o” ending sound and with the middle name [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. It is fresh and sassy, yet will carry well into adulthood. I see it as being more versatile than [name_f]Maisie[/name_f], though I suppose [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is always a great name to fall back on. [name_m]How[/name_m] often do people really change their names? Once they are known by a name it usually sticks.
[name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] and [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] is my favorite [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] nickname! However, I’m also fond of [name_f]Peggy[/name_f]; have you considered it? I feel like it would be pretty refreshing to meet a little [name_f]Peggy[/name_f], and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] is so cute, as is [name_f]Peggy[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]. Good luck!
[name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is such a beautiful name.
I understand about [name_f]Maggie[/name_f]. Nice enough name, but I too much prefer the three you are considering nicknaming [name_f]Margaret[/name_f].
The cool thing is that others will nickname her throughout life, so she may easily end up being called all three plus [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] to boot.
[name_f]Maisie[/name_f] is sweet, but seems to be becoming very popular. I like it best on a little girl or a dog.
[name_f]Margot[/name_f] is elegant and does sound more like a grown woman.
[name_f]Greta[/name_f] is gorgeous for any age.
I’m a big nicknamer - I’d call her all three!
[name_u]Leslie[/name_u][/QUOTE]
Thank you for the input [name_u]Leslie[/name_u]! You are 100% - you really only have so much control over which nicknames are used for your kid!
I do love [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and think it ages nicely. I love the other nicknames as well, which is why [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is such an awesome name! So many variations in one little name!
I love the name [name_f]Maisie[/name_f]. [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] [name_f]May[/name_f] sound so cuteness together. I think that [name_f]Meg[/name_f] is also cute for down the road
To me, [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] and [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] sound almost too matchy-matchy. I like the name [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] a lot, but I like children’s names to stand alone. I’m not a big fan of creating sibsets with similar names. I have a [name_f]Margot[/name_f] and thus it is very easy for me to imagine a baby named [name_f]Margot[/name_f]. It’s a name I’ve never tired of and I’m so glad I chose it (I wanted [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], nn [name_f]Margot[/name_f], but my husband believes you name a child the name you want to call him/her and so her given name is [name_f]Margot[/name_f]). But, I love [name_f]Greta[/name_f] as well, [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Margot[/name_f], [name_f]Tillie[/name_f] and [name_f]Greta[/name_f] both sound really nice to me. I see it basically as a toss-up, but I’ll go with [name_f]Margot[/name_f] since I did once before.
I like [name_f]Greta[/name_f]! [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] or [name_f]Maggie[/name_f] would be my second choice (I like them equally). [name_f]Margot[/name_f] would be my last choice.
I’m in agreement with you re [name_f]Margot[/name_f]! I see it as quite youthful, but it also ages well.
I also love [name_f]Greta[/name_f], and while [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] is very sweet, I do find it a bit matchy-matchy when paired with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f]. One thing that turns me off [name_f]Greta[/name_f] is that it shares a T with [name_f]Tillie[/name_f]. I’m all about sibling names being distinct, so this in addition to [name_f]Margot[/name_f]'s youthful and spunky vibe would place [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] as the frontrunner for me (I also think [name_f]Margot[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] flows better then [name_f]Greta[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f]).
That being said, I don’t think you could go wrong with any of them. They’re all great nicknames for [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], they just all have a different feel to them: [name_f]Maisie[/name_f] is sweet/pretty/airy, [name_f]Greta[/name_f] serious/adult/earthy, and [name_f]Margot[/name_f] youthful/spunky/wise (all highly subjective, though, I suppose!).
