Margaret, Elizabeth and Mary held the top three spots among the most popular girls' names in Scotland for three decades, according to figures from the National Records of Scotland. Margaret was the clear favourite, while Elizabeth and Mary regularly swapped between second and third place.
Three Decades of Dominance
Between 1935 and 1959, the three names consistently occupied the top positions, although not always in the same order. The records only go back to 1935, but these names would have been popular during the 1920s and early 30s as well.
The figures provide a glimpse into how Scottish families chose names for their daughters during the middle of the 20th century. Today, popular baby names can change rapidly, but during this period, these three names remained incredibly popular choices across Scotland.
Margaret's Long Reign
Out of the three, Margaret had the longest reign at the top spot. Elizabeth and Mary eventually began to fall further down the rankings, but Margaret remained the most popular girls' name in Scotland until 1966. That means the name sat at the top spot for more than three decades, making it one of the most enduringly popular girls' names in Scotland during the 20th century.
The names' popularity is easy to understand. Margaret, Elizabeth and Mary all had long histories and were established names, making them familiar choices for parents and often names that could be passed down from one generation to the next.
Nicknames and Familiarity
They were also names that could be adapted into a variety of nicknames and shorter forms. Margaret could become Maggie, Meg or Peggy, while Elizabeth could be shortened to Liz, Lizzie, Beth or Betty. Mary had been a familiar name in Scotland for generations and was often found throughout family trees.
For people born during the period when the three names dominated the charts, it would not have been unusual to meet several other girls or women with the same name. A classroom could have had multiple Margarets, Marys or Elizabeths, while the names would also have appeared repeatedly among mums, aunties and grannies. The popularity of the names also highlights how naming traditions have changed over time, with previous generations often favouring names with strong family, historical or religious connections.
