English and Scottish pet name for Margaret [q.v.] from Greek or Persian "pearl".

Mag was in common use in the Middle Ages and it is suggested that it was possibly the original pet name for Margaret by the loss of the letter r from Marg. The familiar development, Maggie, then became a Scottish pet name.

A private correspondent reports a case where the pet name Aggie has been used for Margaret, presumably as an attenuated form of Maggie. However we feel this is a rare and possibly unique case.