UK girl's name
Marigold
A flower name from the French word for the golden blooms.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Marigold is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Marigold popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1491, with 21 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 23 births.
This profile covers 135 England and Wales registrations across 14 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 91% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 134 living people in the UK are called Marigold. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Marigold ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 21 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2022, when 23 girls were registered as Marigold.
- • About 134 living people in the UK are estimated to have Marigold as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1491
2024
Births in 2024
21
Latest year
Peak year
2022
23 births
Estimated living
134
2026
Meaning
What does Marigold mean?
The name Marigold is derived from the English word for the flower of the same name. The flower itself gets its name from the Old English "merje-golde," which translates to "precious gold." This name was likely chosen for the flower's golden-yellow color, which was associated with wealth and beauty.
The name Marigold first emerged as a given name in England during the 16th century. It was a popular name among the upper classes, who were fond of nature names and floral names for their children. The earliest recorded use of the name Marigold dates back to 1580, when it appeared in parish records.
In literature, one of the earliest references to the name Marigold can be found in the 1616 play "The Witch" by Thomas Middleton. The play features a character named Marigold, who is described as a beautiful and virtuous young woman.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Marigold was Marigold Chapey (1545-1617), a French courtier and mistress to King Henry IV of France. She was known for her beauty and her influence at the French court.
Another notable Marigold from history was Marigold Blethyn (1671-1748), an English philanthropist and founder of a charity school for poor children in London. She was known for her generosity and her commitment to educating underprivileged children.
In the 19th century, Marigold Churchill (1819-1905) was a British aristocrat and socialite who was known for her wit and her involvement in various charitable causes. She was a close friend of Queen Victoria and was a prominent figure in London society.
Marigold Linton (1887-1963) was a British writer and journalist who was best known for her novels and short stories about life in rural England. Her works often featured strong female characters and explored themes of feminism and social justice.
Another notable Marigold from the 20th century was Marigold Gambler (1921-2008), an American actress and singer who appeared in several Broadway musicals and Hollywood films during the 1940s and 1950s. She was known for her powerful voice and her comedic talent.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Marigold over time
The chart below shows babies named Marigold registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Marigold, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 21 births in 2024, compared with 23 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Marigold by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Marigold was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #1843 | 85 | 5 |
| 2010s | #4057 | 47 | 8 |
| 1990s | #3824 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Marigold
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Marigold: questions and answers
How popular is the name Marigold in the UK right now?
In 2024, Marigold was ranked #1491 for girls in England and Wales, with 21 births registered.
When was Marigold most popular?
The peak year on record was 2022, with 23 babies registered as Marigold in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Marigold?
A flower name from the French word for the golden blooms.
How many people are called Marigold in the UK?
A total of 135 babies have been registered as Marigold across the 14 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.