In France, an old little girl’s first name was assigned to around 8,060 babies in 1900, compared to only 80 in 2024. This spectacular drop intrigues future parents looking for a
retro first name original, full of history and yet almost disappeared from announcements.
This first name is Daisya classic French word meaning “pearl.” It even reached a record of around 9,245 births in 1906, before decreasing steadily throughout the 20th century. Understanding this statistical rollercoaster helps to know if this choice is really suitable for a 2026 baby.
Marguerite, from star first name to almost impossible to find first name
8,060 little girls were given this first name in 1900, and there will be another 80 births in 2024. These figures are based on vital statistics that the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies (Insee) draws from the National Identification Directory of Natural Persons (RNIPP). INSEE indicates that the numbers by first name are now rounded to a multiple of 5, which explains round numbers like 80.
Such a collapse does not mean that the first name was rejected, but that it followed the logic of fashion cycles. Parents from the 1960s to the 1990s turned to names that were shorter or perceived as modern. In recent years, on the contrary, we have observed a return of grandmother’s first names in maternity wards, which puts Marguerite back on the radar.
Meaning of Marguerite: from the Greek “pearl” to the great figures
Behind this first name, there is above all a very poetic image. Marguerite means “pearl”, in reference to the Greek “margaritēs” passed into Latin “margarita”. These terms literally designate a pearl, but they are sometimes compared to “purity”. In the French imagination, many first think of the little white flower, which adds a rural dimension to this first name Marguerite.
Saint Margaret of Antioch is a key figure in Christian tradition, who has long been given this first name. We can also cite the writer Marguerite Yourcenar and the novelist Marguerite Duras.
A retro first name that could return to maternity wards
This “old” first name is starting to regain its nobility. The success of Marguerite, emblematic student of the 2024 class of the Star Academygives a very contemporary face to this choice long considered obsolete.
For parents, this statistical decline has an advantage: their child will come across few homonyms, while having a first name steeped in history. We can also mention variants like Margarita or Margarette, which allow you to play the international card without losing the meaning of “pearl”.