Margaretta is a name of Latin origin, derived from the Latin word 'margarita', which means 'pearl'. It was popularized during the Middle Ages by Saint Margaret of Scotland, who was known for her kindness and charity. In its full form, Margaretta is composed of two elements: 'marger' meaning 'to border or edge', and 'ita' meaning 'like'. The name Margaretta has been used widely in various forms throughout history, with notable bearers including Queen Margaret of Scotland (1045-1093) and Margaret of Parma (1522-1586), the Governor of the Spanish Netherlands. Today, it is often seen as an elegant and distinctive choice for a first name.
The name Margaretta experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over time, with the highest number of births recorded in 1913 (45) and the lowest in several years including 1882, 1886, 1956, 1960-1962, 1974-1975, 1985, and 2007 with only 5 or fewer births each. The total number of births recorded over this period is 2535.