Madge

MAJ

A lively English pet form of Margaret, long used as a nickname for a pearl-bearing name.

Meaning

Madge is an English diminutive of Margaret, the name traditionally linked to Greek *margaritēs* meaning “pearl.” The deeper line of descent in the excerpts also connects Margaret with Hebrew Mary/Magdalene associations in older naming traditions, though the main etymological sense for Madge is as a form of Margaret. It has long functioned as a familiar, distinctly English nickname-name.

Origin

Fun fact

19th-century sources even treat Madge as thoroughly English in character, and one excerpt notes a Lettish equivalent, Madsche, sounding very close to it.

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Confidence: mixed. Sources: History of Christian Names, Praenomina; or, the etymology of the principal Christian names of Great Britain and Ireland, Girls' Names and Name-Day and Birthday Book, Curiosities of Puritan Nomenclature.

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