It is of Latin origin, via Ancient Greek and ultimately from Old Iranian.

Margaret has many diminutive forms in many languages, including Daisy, Greta, Gretchen, Maggie, Madge, Maisie, Marge, Margie, Margo, Margot, Marnie, Meg, Megan, Molly, Peggy, and Rita.

[2][3] Margaret is derived via French (Marguerite) and Latin (Margarita) from Ancient Greek: μαργαρίτης (margarítēs), via Persian murwārīd, meaning "pearl".

[4][5][6] Margarita (given name) traces the etymology further as مروارید, morvārīd in modern Persian, derived from Sogdian marγārt, both meaning 'pearl'.

It is ultimately traces its roots to Old Iranian -mr‌gāhrīta*, "derived from a shell".