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CLOUDY Temp: 61 °F Wind: WNW at 5 mph Monday, September 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 9, 2003 Since You Asked Maggie may be Margaret, or Meg, or even Peggy I work in customer service and meet many women named Margaret who go by Peggy. I’ve asked many of them where the nickname came from, and nobody knew. It’s driving me nuts, so I’m turning to you. Help. — Janean E., Medford " Margaret" goes back to the ancient Greek margarita , or pearl, Janean. It’s in the New Testament as a metaphor, not a person’s name: the "margarita of great price." After a saint had the name, it became popular in many languages. When the name was brought to 18th century Pennsylvania by German immigrants, Margaretha became Margaret. Nicknames include not only Peggy, but Maggie, Margie, Meg and Peg. Advertisement In looking at nicknames, linguists distinguish between linguistic equivalents and usage equivalents. Before the 20th century, the sound of the name was probably more important than its etymology. In families, nicknames are often based not on meaning but on babytalk. M and P sounds are both made with the lips and are some of the first sounds a baby forms. Margaret became not only Meg, Peg and Peggy but, in some families, Mog and Moggy and Poggy. We’re kinda glad. Buddy Holly would never have gone for a Margaret Sue. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Rogue Valley Auto Finder Rogue Valley Job Finder --> Rogue Valley Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times