Name profile

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Peg

An English Margaret diminutive meaning “pearl.”

Meaning and history

Peg is an English feminine diminutive of Margaret. Its initial consonant changed through medieval rhyming nickname patterns, much as Meg produced Peg. Margaret comes from Greek margarites, meaning “pearl,” ultimately borrowed from an eastern language. Saint Margaret of Antioch and numerous European queens gave the full name lasting Christian and royal significance. Peg is also used independently. Notable bearers include American writer and actor Peg Lynch and American sports administrator Peg Bradley-Doppes.