Namewise

Margaret vs Robyn

Margaret and Robyncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Margaret was ranked #135 and Robyn #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Girls

    In 2024, Margaret was ranked #244 and Robyn #48 among girls in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Margaret was ranked #407 and Robyn #67 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Margaret was ranked #493 and Robyn #78 among girls in England and Wales.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1975, Margaret was ranked #99 and Robyn #80 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1974, Margaret was ranked #93 and Robyn #85 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

Margaret and Robyn over time

Margaret and Robyn appear together in 5 published lists, across 143 years of shared records. Robyn held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Margaret in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Margaret reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Robyn in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1974, Robyn moved ahead of Margaret in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #81 and #98 the year before became #93 and #85.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Margaret and Robyn averaged 6.8 places apart, ending at #93 and #85.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Margaret and Robyn were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 43 years, from 1982 to 2025, ending at #135 and #19.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Margaret #3 in 1952, Robyn #6 in 1953.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls43 shared years, 1982–2025

    Margaret held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Robyn in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Margaret #22 in 1988, Robyn #19 in 2025.

    The order changed in 1998: Robyn moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #59 and #69; by 1998 that had become #97 and #69.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Margaret #135, Robyn #19.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Margaret held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Margaret #357 in 2020, Robyn #64 in 2023.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Margaret #493, Robyn #78.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls26 shared years, 1997–2024

    Margaret held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Robyn in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Margaret #119 in 2000, Robyn #57 in 2019.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Margaret #407, Robyn #67.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls23 shared years, 1952–1974

    Margaret held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Robyn in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Margaret #3 in 1952, Robyn #6 in 1953.

    The order changed in 1974: Robyn moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #81 and #98; by 1974 that had become #93 and #85.

    Most recent shared year, 1974: Margaret #93, Robyn #85.

  • New Zealand · Girls22 shared years, 1954–1975

    Margaret held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Robyn in 16.

    Highest recorded here: Margaret #3 in 1954, Robyn #8 in 1956.

    The order changed in 1974: Robyn moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #81 and #89; by 1974 that had become #82 and #72.

    Most recent shared year, 1975: Margaret #99, Robyn #80.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Margaret

Pairs where Margaret shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Robyn

Pairs where Robyn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1970s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1970 and 1979.

The 1970s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Margaret, Robyn
FieldMargaretRobyn
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFrom Latin Margarita, from Greek 'margarites' meaning 'pearl' — likely originally borrowed from an Indo-Iranian language. Associated with Saint Margaret, a 4th-century martyr and patron saint of expectant mothers.A feminine variant of Robin, itself a diminutive of Robert.
OriginGreekGermanic, feminine diminutive form
Pronunciation/ˈmɑɹ.ɡɹɪt//ˈɹɑb.ɪn/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #135 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #19 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Margaret is recorded with a Greek origin, while Robyn is recorded with a Germanic, feminine diminutive form origin.
  • Margaret has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Robyn.
  • Margaret's recorded meaning differs from Robyn's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Margaret

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #173 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #135 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

Robyn

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #7 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1952–1974

    Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1953 (recorded 1952–1974).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #19 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls