Margaret is a royal queen, an ancient name around . A dark, rich plum color is suitable.  Margaret translates to pearl; she is an elegant lady wearing a Downton Abbey style dress, a fur stole adorning her shoulders, and her hands intertwined on her lap posing for her portrait. Margaret is lady afraid to make mistakes. Her elegance is a facade to hide her fear of disappointing the ones close to her.

Maggie is a whole different person. She is not perfect; always organized in her own disorganization. Maggie is a green like grass. More lively, modern, and juvenile. Maggie is the font Comic Sans. Margaret is more like a cursive font. Margaret is the pearl with a fancy wardrobe containing all name brands and Maggie is the pearl paired with casual consignment clothing.

The first day of school during attendance the teacher calls out Margaret. My hand tentatively shoots up but then quickly down. As soon as I identify myself, I can feel the tension in the room as acquaintance eyes are wandering confusedly around me thinking, “Her name is Margaret? I thought she was Maggie?

As a kid, I had more nicknames. As I grew older, my nicknames did as well. Margaret Louise was quickly shortened to Maggie Lou, but unfamiliar faces called me Maggie. My dad was the only one allowed to call me Mugs. I am unsure of the origin of Mugs, but it had to rhyme with Bugs and Tugs-- my other sisters nicknames. Relatives know the Siepmann sisters as Bugs, Mugs and Tugs.

There are few people in this generation that have family names because they are ancient sounding. However, old fashioned names were charming to my parents when I was born. They said I looked like a Margaret when I was born and liked the deeper meaning to my name. My name comes from my paternal grandmother. My sister and I both inherited parts of the name Margaret Adeline Black.

If I was able to change my name, I would not. Maggie is fitting for a girl like me.  I have grown to be a Maggie and less of a Margaret. I question what I will be called as a grandma because I can never see any 80 year old woman named Maggie. Like a pair of pearl earrings, they will still look good at 80, hopefully I do too.