Greta Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Greta is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Greta?
Greta is spelled G-R-E-T-A. The name has 5 letters.
Greta at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Greta is a diminutive form derived from the name Margaret, which originates from the Greek word “margarites” meaning “pearl.”
- Origin
- Greta is commonly associated as a short form of Margaret, a name with Greek origins.
- Pronunciation
- GRET-uh · 2 syllables
Greta Popularity in 2025
Rank#908
Recorded Births291
- Girls usage fell 48 places to #908 and recorded 23 fewer births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Greta Mean?
Greta is a diminutive form derived from the name Margaret, which originates from the Greek word “margarites” meaning “pearl.”
Origin: Greta is commonly associated as a short form of Margaret, a name with Greek origins.
How Do You Pronounce Greta?
PronunciationGRET-uh
Syllables2
What Is the History of the Name Greta?
- History
- The use of Greta as a given name has been linked to Germanic and Scandinavian cultures as a familiar form of Margaret.
Greta Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 291 | #908 |
| 2024 | Girls | 314 | #860 |
| 2023 | Girls | 283 | #936 |
| 2022 | Girls | 324 | #859 |
| 2021 | Girls | 336 | #826 |
| 2020 | Girls | 370 | #739 |
| 2019 | Girls | 462 | #637 |
| 2018 | Girls | 519 | #589 |
| 2017 | Girls | 466 | #632 |
| 2016 | Girls | 473 | #633 |
| 2015 | Girls | 533 | #575 |
| 2014 | Girls | 494 | #597 |
| 2013 | Girls | 479 | #593 |
| 2012 | Girls | 444 | #642 |
| 2011 | Girls | 411 | #684 |
| 2010 | Girls | 431 | #671 |
| 2009 | Girls | 417 | #696 |
| 2008 | Girls | 434 | #696 |
| 2007 | Girls | 434 | #675 |
| 2006 | Girls | 411 | #686 |
| 2005 | Girls | 405 | #685 |
| 2004 | Girls | 379 | #707 |
| 2003 | Girls | 376 | #695 |
| 2002 | Girls | 319 | #756 |
When Was Greta Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1967 · Girls
534 recorded births
National rank #394
2015 · Girls
533 recorded births
National rank #575
2018 · Girls
519 recorded births
National rank #589
2014 · Girls
494 recorded births
National rank #597
Where Greta Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| MN | #130 | 40 |
| WI | #326 | 16 |
| KS | #361 | 9 |
| IA | #390 | 8 |
| UT | #440 | 9 |
| MA | #444 | 12 |
| IL | #575 | 17 |
| CO | #634 | 8 |