NameCensus.

UK girl's name

Gretta

A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "pearl".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2015. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Gretta is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Gretta popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2015 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5730, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2008, with 3 births.

This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2008 to 2015. 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.

The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 6 living people in the UK are called Gretta. 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 2016 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Gretta ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales in 2015, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2008, when 3 girls were registered as Gretta.
  • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gretta as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5730

2015

Births in 2015

3

Latest year

Peak year

2008

3 births

Estimated living

6

2026

Meaning

What does Gretta mean?

The name Gretta is believed to have originated from the Germanic root name Greta, which means "pearl." This name was popular in medieval times and has been used across various parts of Europe, particularly in Scandinavia and Germany.

The name Gretta is a variant spelling of the name Greta, which can be traced back to the Middle Ages. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Greta appears in the 13th century Icelandic Saga of Erik the Red, where a character named Greta is mentioned.

In the 14th century, Saint Greta of Thunberg, a Swedish mystic and visionary, was a notable bearer of the name. She is known for her religious writings and her devotion to the Catholic faith.

During the Renaissance period, the Italian painter Greta da Fabriano, born around 1370, was a prominent figure in the art world. She is known for her frescoes and altarpieces, particularly in the Marche region of Italy.

In the 19th century, Greta Garbo, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson in 1905, was a renowned Swedish-American film actress. She was a major star during the Golden Age of Hollywood and is often regarded as one of the greatest actresses of all time.

Another notable figure was Greta Thunberg, born in 2003, a Swedish environmental activist known for her passionate advocacy for climate change action. Her "Fridays for Future" movement inspired millions of people around the world to take action against climate change.

While the name Gretta is less common than its variant Greta, it has been used throughout history. For instance, Gretta Brooker Palmer, an American activist and advocate for women's rights, was born in 1889 and played a significant role in the suffrage movement.

Overall, the name Gretta has a rich history rooted in Germanic origins, with variations appearing across different cultures and time periods. It has been borne by notable individuals, from saints and artists to activists and actresses, reflecting its enduring appeal and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Gretta over time

The chart below shows babies named Gretta registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2008 to 2015. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Gretta, the clearest high point is 2008. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2015, compared with 3 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Gretta
01223200820112015

Decades

Gretta by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gretta 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
2010s #5730 3 1
2000s #5545 3 1

Related

Names similar to Gretta

FAQ

Gretta: questions and answers

How popular is the name Gretta in the UK right now?

In 2015, Gretta was ranked #5730 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Gretta most popular?

The peak year on record was 2008, with 3 babies registered as Gretta in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Gretta?

A feminine name of Scandinavian origin meaning "pearl".

How many people are called Gretta in the UK?

A total of 6 babies have been registered as Gretta across the 2 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.