NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Marjory

A feminine name of Scottish origin meaning "pearl".

Marjory is a girl's name in the UK records.

We estimate that about 29 living people in the UK are called Marjory. 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

  • Marjory ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #547 in 1984.
  • About 29 living people in the UK are estimated to have Marjory as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

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Births in -

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Peak year

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Estimated living

29

2026

Meaning

What does Marjory mean?

The name Marjory is of English origin, derived from the Old French name "Margerie", which itself comes from the Greek name "Margarites" meaning "pearl". This name dates back to the Middle Ages and was particularly popular in England and Scotland.

The earliest known record of the name Marjory appears in the 13th century, when it was used by Scottish nobles and members of the royal court. One of the most notable early bearers of this name was Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of King Robert the Bruce, who lived from 1297 to 1316.

In the 14th century, the name gained popularity among the English aristocracy. Marjory of Badlesmere, an English noblewoman, lived from around 1300 to 1363 and was known for her involvement in the Peasants' Revolt.

During the Renaissance period, the name Marjory continued to be used, though less commonly than its variants such as Margaret or Margery. One notable bearer was Marjory Fleming, a Scottish writer and poet who lived from 1803 to 1811 and is remembered for her precocious literary talents despite her short life.

In the 19th century, the name experienced a revival, particularly in Scotland. Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, a Scottish singer, and music collector, lived from 1857 to 1930 and played a significant role in preserving traditional Scottish songs and melodies.

Another famous Marjory was Marjory Stoneman Douglas, an American conservationist and writer who lived from 1890 to 1998. She is best known for her book "The Everglades: River of Grass", which helped raise awareness about the importance of preserving the Everglades ecosystem in Florida.

While not as common today as it once was, the name Marjory has a rich history and has been borne by notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Geography

Where Marjory is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Marjory. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Marjory ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #547 in 1984.

Scotland
3

Across the UK

Marjory in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#547 in 1984

7 years of NRS records, 30 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Marjory

  • Marjory McLachlan

    Scottish ceremonial officer (1942-2020)

    1942-2020

  • Marjory Russell

    badminton player

    badminton player

    1929-2015

  • Marjory Saunders

    archer

    Canadian archer (1913–2010)

    1913-2010

  • Marjory Gill Allen

    architect; landscape architect

    British landscape architect

    1897-1976

  • Marjory Warren

    geriatrician

    Warren, Marjory Winsome (1897–1960), geriatrician

    1897-1960

  • Marjory Stephenson

    chemist; microbiologist; biochemist

    British biochemist (1885–1948)

    1885-1948

  • Marjory Newbold

    Scottish socialist and communist (1883–1926)

    1883-1926

  • Marjory Violet Watherston

    painter

    British painter (1881-1969)

    1881-1969

Related

Names similar to Marjory

FAQ

Marjory: questions and answers

What is the meaning and origin of Marjory?

A feminine name of Scottish origin meaning "pearl".

Where is Marjory most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Marjory ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #547 in 1984. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.