UK girl's name
Mette
A feminine Scandinavian name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "maiden" or "noble woman".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2007. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Mette is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Mette popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2007 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5201, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 3 births.
This profile covers 6 England and Wales registrations across 2 recorded years from 2003 to 2007. 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 Mette. 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 2008 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Mette ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales in 2007, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2003, when 3 girls were registered as Mette.
- • About 6 living people in the UK are estimated to have Mette as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5201
2007
Births in 2007
3
Latest year
Peak year
2003
3 births
Estimated living
6
2026
Meaning
What does Mette mean?
The name Mette is a feminine given name of Danish origin, derived from the Old Norse name Matilda or Mathilde. The name Matilda itself is a combination of the Germanic elements "maht" (meaning "might" or "strength") and "hild" (meaning "battle" or "combat").
Mette is believed to have emerged as a diminutive or pet form of Matilda, likely in the late medieval period. It gained popularity in Denmark and other Scandinavian countries, particularly during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Mette can be found in the Danish royal family. Mette Pedersdatter, born around 1470, was a Danish noblewoman and the mistress of King Hans of Denmark. She played a significant role in the political affairs of the time and was known for her influence over the king.
Another notable historical figure with the name Mette was Mette Winge (1617-1684), a Danish landowner and businesswoman. She was one of the wealthiest individuals in Denmark during the 17th century and owned several estates and properties.
In the realm of literature, the name Mette appears in the works of Danish writer and poet Jens Baggesen (1764-1826). His poem "Mette" from 1808 is a tribute to a young woman named Mette, whom he encountered during his travels.
The name Mette has also been associated with several artists and cultural figures. Mette Calmer (1887-1975) was a Swedish actress and singer who performed in numerous theater productions and films during the early 20th century.
More recently, Mette Frederiksen (born in 1977) is a Danish politician who currently serves as the Prime Minister of Denmark, becoming the youngest person to hold the office in 2019.
While the name Mette has maintained its popularity in Scandinavia, particularly in Denmark, it has also gained some recognition in other parts of the world, especially in areas with Danish or Nordic cultural influences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Mette over time
The chart below shows babies named Mette registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2003 to 2007. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Mette, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2007, compared with 3 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Mette by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Mette 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #4787 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Mette
- Megan 70,884
- Mia 67,204
- Molly 47,734
- Millie 44,390
- Maisie 32,671
- Matilda 29,965
- Maya 26,445
- Madison 18,441
- Maria 17,304
- Mollie 15,914
- Martha 15,116
- Maddison 14,918
FAQ
Mette: questions and answers
How popular is the name Mette in the UK right now?
In 2007, Mette was ranked #5201 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Mette most popular?
The peak year on record was 2003, with 3 babies registered as Mette in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Mette?
A feminine Scandinavian name of uncertain origin, possibly meaning "maiden" or "noble woman".
How many people are called Mette in the UK?
A total of 6 babies have been registered as Mette 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.