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The short answer
Maisie is a Scottish diminutive of Mairead, the Gaelic form of Margaret. Behind the Name says it was long used in the United Kingdom and Australia and became especially popular at the end of the 20th century; in the United States it was brought to wider attention by British actress Maisie Williams, who played Arya Stark on Game of Thrones beginning in 2011 (her own birth name is Margaret). Pronounced MAY-zee, it ranked #233 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name describes Maisie as a "Scottish diminutive of Mairead", noting it was long used in the UK and Australia and grew popular at the end of the 20th century, with actress Maisie Williams (born Margaret) credited for raising its American profile via Game of Thrones. The parent name Mairead was not found in the local Behind the Name facts cache, so its own Gaelic gloss (traditionally linked to Margaret's Greek 'pearl' meaning) is not independently verified here.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Maisie ranked #233 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #233 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Mazie, Mysie, Maisey, Maisy
Related names: Mairead, Margaret
What the name feels like
Maisie has a bouncy, storybook charm shared with other -ie ending Scottish and English nicknames like Millie and Bonnie, and it now functions as a full name for most families rather than a stand-in for Margaret.
Style tags: Scottish, nickname-name, vintage revival, storybook charm
Editorial interpretation: This style framing is editorial opinion. The Mairead/Margaret connection and Maisie Williams reference are documented by Behind the Name; the 'storybook charm' description is subjective.
If you like this name
Editorial picks for readers drawn to Maisie's Scottish diminutive style or its Margaret connection.
Similar by sound
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Maisie mean?
Maisie is a Scottish diminutive of Mairead, the Gaelic form of Margaret; the deeper Gaelic gloss for Mairead itself was not independently verified in this pass.
Is Maisie short for Margaret?
Indirectly, yes — Behind the Name lists it as a diminutive of Mairead, which is itself the Gaelic form of Margaret. Actress Maisie Williams, whose birth name is Margaret, is a well-known modern bearer.
Is Maisie a popular name?
Maisie ranked #233 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Maisie — supports etymology, history, variants, pronunciation.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
