Greta
From German and Swedish Greta, a contraction of Margareta.
Every Greta since 1885 — 27,791 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Greta
Greta is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #908 in 2025 with 291 babies given the name. It is currently declining compared with a decade ago.
Since 1885, 27,791 American babies have been named Greta. Its peak came in 1967, when 534 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1960s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Greta stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Greta year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 291 | #908 | — | — |
| 2024 | 314 | #862 | — | — |
| 2023 | 283 | #938 | — | — |
| 2022 | 324 | #859 | — | — |
| 2021 | 336 | #827 | — | — |
| 2020 | 370 | #740 | — | — |
| 2019 | 462 | #637 | — | — |
| 2018 | 519 | #589 | — | — |
| 2017 | 466 | #634 | — | — |
| 2016 | 473 | #633 | — | — |
| 2015 | 533 | #575 | — | — |
| 2014 | 494 | #597 | — | — |
| 2013 | 479 | #594 | — | — |
| 2012 | 444 | #642 | — | — |
| 2011 | 411 | #684 | — | — |
| 2010 | 431 | #671 | — | — |
| 2009 | 417 | #696 | — | — |
| 2008 | 434 | #696 | — | — |
| 2007 | 434 | #675 | — | — |
| 2006 | 411 | #688 | — | — |
| 2005 | 405 | #685 | — | — |
| 2004 | 379 | #708 | — | — |
| 2003 | 376 | #695 | — | — |
| 2002 | 319 | #756 | — | — |
| 2001 | 279 | #829 | — | — |
| 2000 | 301 | #757 | — | — |
| 1995 | 132 | #1,275 | — | — |
| 1990 | 106 | #1,471 | — | — |
| 1985 | 110 | #1,245 | — | — |
| 1980 | 199 | #811 | — | — |
| 1975 | 194 | #742 | — | — |
| 1970 | 344 | #544 | — | — |
| 1965 | 255 | #607 | — | — |
| 1960 | 321 | #540 | — | — |
| 1955 | 236 | #602 | — | — |
| 1950 | 143 | #718 | — | — |
| 1945 | 95 | #769 | — | — |
| 1940 | 149 | #569 | — | — |
| 1935 | 271 | #388 | — | — |
| 1930 | 345 | #360 | — | — |
| 1925 | 67 | #909 | — | — |
| 1920 | 62 | #924 | — | — |
| 1915 | 103 | #653 | — | — |
| 1910 | 28 | #817 | — | — |
| 1905 | 38 | #566 | — | — |
| 1900 | 32 | #625 | — | — |
| 1895 | 20 | #708 | — | — |
| 1890 | 14 | #741 | — | — |
| 1885 | 6 | #972 | — | — |
| 1880 | — | — | — | — |
Famous people named Greta
- Greta Garbo Actor · 1905–1990
- Greta Thunberg Social activist · b. 2003
- Greta Scacchi Actor · b. 1960
- Greta Schröder Actor · 1891–1967
- Greta Andersen Swimmer · b. 1927
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Greta mean?
From German and Swedish Greta, a contraction of Margareta.
How popular is the name Greta in 2025?
Greta ranked #908 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 291 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Greta?
27,791 babies have been named Greta in the United States since 1885, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Greta most popular?
Greta peaked in 1967, when 534 newborns received the name.
Is Greta a boy or girl name?
Greta is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Greta rising or falling?
Greta is declining — less popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Greta?
Well-known people named Greta include Greta Garbo (actor), Greta Thunberg (social activist), Greta Scacchi (actor).