A 1910s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Netty since 1913
Babies named Netty per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1920, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Netty's real moment was 1913.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 16 |
| 1920s | 66 |
| 1930s | 27 |
| 1940s | 16 |
| 1950s | 19 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 5 |
Meaning & origin
Netty is a vintage diminutive that saw its peak in the early 20th century, ranking highest in 1913. It never cracked the top 1000 in later decades, remaining a rare choice ever since. Its usage has seen a tiny revival since 2022, but it still remains a unique and uncommon name. It is one of many -etty nicknames from a time when such diminutives were given as full names, a trend that is occasionally revisited by modern parents seeking an old-fashioned, sweet sound.
Netty originated as a diminutive of longer names like Jeanette, Annette, or Nanette, which in turn are French pet forms of Jeanne and Anne. Jeanne is the French feminine form of John, from the Hebrew Yochanan meaning 'God is gracious'. The name saw modest independent use in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, often as a nickname before becoming a given name in its own right.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Nettie, Netti
Sibling names for Netty
Names that share Netty's style, for a brother or sister.
