Declining since 2011, #5,410 for girls today.
Popularity of Gretta since 1881
Babies named Gretta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1966, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gretta's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 38 |
| 1890s | 98 |
| 1900s | 110 |
| 1910s | 206 |
| 1920s | 260 |
| 1930s | 389 |
| 1940s | 315 |
| 1950s | 314 |
| 1960s | 491 |
| 1970s | 337 |
| 1980s | 193 |
| 1990s | 234 |
| 2000s | 423 |
| 2010s | 543 |
| 2020s | 188 |
Meaning & origin
Gretta, a short form of Margaret, has been in use since at least 1881, when it first appeared in U.S. records. Its peak year came in 1895, reflecting the broader popularity of Margaret and its variants in the late 19th century. By 2025, the name ranked 5,410, with a frequency of approximately 1 in 69,881 births. Gretta has been on a declining trajectory since 2011, though it retains a vintage charm. While no top states are recorded for recent years, the name was historically favored in areas with strong Scottish and Irish heritage. As a diminutive, Gretta shares the durable legacy of Margaret, a classic that has remained in common use for centuries.
Gretta is a shortened form of the name Margaret, which itself derives from the Greek word 'margaritēs' meaning 'pearl'. Margaret has been common in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages, and Gretta emerged as a familiar diminutive, particularly in Scotland and Ireland. The name saw its peak popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Gret, Etta
Variants: Greta
Sibling names for Gretta
Names that share Gretta's style, for a brother or sister.
