What does marguerite mean?
A marguerite is a daisy, particularly the familiar garden flower with white ray petals surrounding a yellow centre. In English, the word also serves as a feminine given name and may be associated especially with French-speaking traditions. The botanical term is less common in general American usage than “daisy,” but it has a traditional and slightly formal quality that makes it useful in garden writing, descriptions of flowers, and literary contexts. A related form of the word, “margarite,” has historical and literary associations with the same flower. Although marguerites are ordinary members of the daisy family, the name’s connection with the Greek word for pearl adds a memorable refinement to an otherwise familiar flower.
nounA marguerite is a daisy, especially the common garden daisy with white petals and a yellow centre. The name is also used as a feminine given name.
- A daisy, especially the common garden daisy with white petals and a yellow centre.
- A feminine given name.
"A border of marguerites brightened the garden through the summer."
"She picked a handful of marguerites from the lawn."
"Marguerite was the name engraved on the old silver brooch."
Use the plural when referring to more than one marguerite flower or to the name as a family name.
"The florist arranged white marguerites around the pedestal."
The familiar marguerite daisy carries a name that ultimately means “pearl,” a fitting association for a flower with bright white petals.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of marguerite
The English word comes through French marguerite, a diminutive of Marguerite, which in turn is based on the Latin and Greek margarites, meaning “pearl” and also referring to a daisy. The pearl meaning arose from the flower’s resemblance to a small white pearl, and the same root is reflected in cognates such as margarite and Margaret. The name has also been used for women, especially in French-speaking countries.
How marguerite is actually used
The botanical sense is relatively uncommon in everyday American English, where “daisy” is more usual. The word is also a traditional feminine given name, especially in France and other French-speaking countries.