UK girl's name
Eta
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "seventh letter of the Greek alphabet".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Eta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Eta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5891, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 3 births.
This profile covers 3 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2024 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
Eta is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 3 living people in the UK are called Eta. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Eta ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2024, when 3 girls were registered as Eta.
- • About 3 living people in the UK are estimated to have Eta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5891
2024
Births in 2024
3
Latest year
Peak year
2024
3 births
Estimated living
3
2026
Meaning
What does Eta mean?
The name Eta is believed to have originated from the ancient Greek language, specifically from the word "etos," which means "year." This suggests that the name may have been associated with time or the changing of seasons in ancient Greek culture.
One of the earliest known references to the name Eta can be found in Greek mythology. Eta was the name of one of the Oceanids, a group of sea nymphs who were the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. In this context, the name Eta was likely chosen to represent the cyclical nature of the ocean's tides or the annual patterns of the sea.
The first recorded individual with the name Eta was Eta of Cos, a Greek lyric poetess who lived in the 6th century BCE. She is considered one of the nine female lyric poets of ancient Greece and is known for her works on the themes of love and nature.
In the 4th century BCE, another notable figure named Eta emerged. Eta of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. She is credited with developing the concept of the "Golden Ratio," a mathematical proportion that is often found in nature and has been used extensively in art and architecture.
During the Byzantine Empire, the name Eta gained popularity among the Greek population. One notable bearer of the name was Eta of Constantinople, a renowned scholar and translator who lived in the 11th century CE. She is known for her translations of various philosophical and scientific works from Arabic into Greek, which helped preserve and disseminate knowledge during that period.
In the 16th century, Eta Angeli was an Italian poet and scholar who was highly regarded for her literary works. She was a member of the Accademia degli Infiammati, a prestigious literary society in Padua, and her poetry often explored themes of love, nature, and the human experience.
Throughout history, the name Eta has been carried by individuals from various backgrounds and professions, including artists, writers, scholars, and philosophers. While not a widely popular name, it has maintained a presence in various cultures, particularly in regions with Greek influences or connections.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Eta by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Eta was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #5891 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Eta
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Eta: questions and answers
How popular is the name Eta in the UK right now?
In 2024, Eta was ranked #5891 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Eta most popular?
The peak year on record was 2024, with 3 babies registered as Eta in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Eta?
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "seventh letter of the Greek alphabet".
How many people are called Eta in the UK?
A total of 3 babies have been registered as Eta across the 1 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.