Holding steady.
Popularity of Rheta since 1893
Babies named Rheta per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 5 |
| 1900s | 5 |
| 1910s | 129 |
| 1920s | 179 |
| 1930s | 462 |
| 1940s | 187 |
| 1950s | 165 |
| 1960s | 63 |
| 1970s | 5 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Rheta is a rare feminine name that saw its highest usage in the United States around the 1930s. It first appeared on record in 1893 but never achieved widespread popularity; its peak year was 1934, after which its use declined. The name has maintained a stable and low trajectory since then, with no recent resurgence. While its exact origin is uncertain, it is generally considered a variant of Rita or a diminutive of Margaret, linking it to the Greek word for 'pearl'
Rheta likely emerged as a variant of Rita, itself a short form of Margherita (the Italian form of Margaret), ultimately from Greek margarites meaning 'pearl'. Alternatively, it may be a respelling of Rheta, a name given in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The name saw modest use in the United States from the 1890s through the 1930s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Rhe
Sibling names for Rheta
Names that share Rheta's style, for a brother or sister.
