American actress Margaret Hamilton passed away on May 16, 1985 at the age of 82.
Margaret was best known for her portrayal of the Wicked Witch of the West — one of the world’s most memorable villains — in the timeless film, The Wizard of Oz.
Hamilton’s name is a perfect match for the timelessness of the film. Margaret has never fallen out of the US Top 200, currently ranking #132. Derived from the French Marguerite, which in turn stemmed from the Greek Margarites — all meaning “pearl”.
In addition to this classic form staying well-loved across the generations, many of Margaret’s variations have had quite a successful career as well.
The most popular in the US in 2024 was the botanical Daisy, with fast-rising Margot right on its heels. Other variations in the US Top 1000 include Maisie, Maisy, Margo, Megan, and Greta.