M is for Margaret

Margaret. The under-appreciated classic that has it all. Margaret. Can you ask for a classier name? Unfortunately, Margaret has been left by the wayside for the past half-century. Over that time, it got an old, unfashionable image. Margaret. That old librarian who smelled like ben-gay and fifteen-year-old books. Use Margaret for an adorable baby? Absolutely not.

Despite unfortunate opinions like these, I think Margaret's day is due. It's the name of queens, saints (including one called Margaret the Barefooted), and prime ministers. It sounds upright, impeccable, and strong. It's nickname selections range from spunky to super-cute. Consider:

Maggie

Mago (pronounced MAH-go, I think)

Maisie

Mamie

Meg/Peg

Greta

And if Margaret's not your pace, how about it's international variations?

Gita

Gituska

Gretchen/Grete

Gretel

Grieta

Mairead (MAU-reed)

Makelesi (MAH-ka-lee-see)

Mared

Marga/Margit/Margita

Margo/Margot/Margaux

Margreta

Marguerite/Margarethe

Margarita/Margareta

Marjatta

Margara

Margisia

Marka/Marketa

Megan/Meaghan

Meta

Rita

Marjorie/Margery

And, if I haven't mentioned it before, Margaret is my very favorite name.

Christmas Names

Time was that Carol was a smash hit. Back then, it was chosen particularly often during the Christmas season, obviously because of the association with Christmas carols. While that's a rather cheesy way to tip your hat to the season, there are plenty of better options, such as names that mean Christmas, and names connected with Christmas. Names that mean Christmas:

Natalie/Natalia - popular names with a well-known--but not too well-known Christmas meaning

Noel - For a girl, pronounced Noelle and sometimes spelled that way; for a boy, pronounced NO-uhl

There are also Christmas cultural icons to consider:

Nicholas

Norman (Rockwell)

Irving (Berlin)

George (Bailey)

We all have things we love most about Christmas, and some of them have quite lovely names related to them:

Holly/Hollis (holly)

Celyn (holly)

Oren (pine)

Douglas (like the fir)

Nousha (sweet, like cookies)

Miela (sweet)

Edur (snow)

Eira/Eirwen (snow)

Nevada (snow)

You could acknowledge your real favorite thing about Christmas and choose a name that means 'gift':

Darina

Cassandra

Dorothea

Jesse

Matthew

Theodore

Or, you can just go for Mary or Joseph. Merry Christmas!