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Mairead

Girl name · 280 babies recorded · 1974–2025

Mairead: 280 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to girls, peaking at 15 births in 1996.

Mairead is the Scottish Gaelic equivalent of Margaret, ultimately deriving from the Greek "margarites," meaning "pearl." This name brings to mind Saint Margaret of Scotland, the 11th-century English princess who became queen consort and a beloved figure of piety and charity, after whom countless churches and institutions across Scotland are named. More recently, actress and activist Mairead Maguire co-founded the Peace People in Northern Ireland and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1976. The island of St. Margaret's Hope in Orkney shares her saintly connection, while the name's root also appears in the gemstone name "margarite." A charming variant, Mairead is pronounced "MY-reed" or "MAY-reed," and has seen a gentle revival in modern Scotland, often chosen by parents seeking a traditionally Scottish name with strong historical and spiritual resonance.