Greta
2025 SSA
Below 5 births
About Greta
Greta is an Old World name long tied to the iconic Garbo, but now synonymous with environmental activism.
In the early 2000s, Greta was showing signs of a comeback, along with other Old Hollywood glamour names. It was even chosen by David Caruso and by Phoebe Cates and Kevin Kline for their daughters. Then in 2018, Swedish teen Greta Thunberg became very famous, very fast, for her anti-climate-change protests. Since then, it seems that the name is too tied to one figure for most parents' tastes... which is a shame.
Greta is currently popular in Germany, Hungary, and especially Italy. Dr. Greta Guttman was a character on Mad Men, Greta Van Susteren is a familiar face on TV, and Greta Gerwig is an up-and-coming young actress and director.
Greta returned to the Top 1000 in 1999, and rose as high as the 500s, before swiftly plummeting in Thunberg's early years of public activism. The name's highest point ever was at Number 318 in 1932, at the peak of Garbo's career, the year she starred in Grand Hotel and one year after she was Oscar-nominated for Anna Christie.
Greta should be a sweet spot name — sophisticated with a touch of retro glamour — and a hero name, and we hope it will regain some of its former glory. On the other hand, variant Gretel is still out strewing crumbs in the forest with brother Hansel.
Greta is also given to boys.
Pronounced GRAY-tuh.
As of October 2026, Greta ranked #908 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #317 in 1932, Nameberry popularity #307.
Popularity & trends
Data table
| Year | US rank · girls | Births · girls | US rank · boys | Births · boys |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | #597 | 494 | — | 0 |
| 2015 | #575 | 533 | — | 0 |
| 2016 | #633 | 473 | — | 0 |
| 2017 | #634 | 466 | — | 0 |
| 2018 | #589 | 519 | — | 0 |
| 2019 | #636 | 462 | — | 0 |
| 2020 | #740 | 370 | — | 0 |
| 2021 | #827 | 336 | — | 0 |
| 2022 | #859 | 324 | — | 0 |
| 2023 | #936 | 283 | — | 0 |
| 2024 | #855 | 314 | — | 0 |
| 2025 | #908 | 291 | — | 0 |
World rankings
Greta for girls
Similar names
These 20 names were selected by our users looking for other names like Greta.
Greta on lists
Famous Gretas
- Greta Morgan SalpeterGirl
American pianist and singer of The Hush Sound and Gold Motel
- Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson)Girl
Swedish actress
- Greta Celeste GerwigGirl
American actress and director
- Greta Van SusterenGirl
American TV journalist and commentator
- Greta ScacchiGirl
Italian,Australian actress
- Greta Gynt (born Margrethe Woxholt)Girl
Norwegian singer, dancer and actress
- Greta AndersenGirl
Danish Olympic swimmer
- Margarethe "Greta" SchröderGirl
German actress
- Gréta ArnGirl
Hungarian tennis player
- Greta CarusoGirl
daughter of actor David Caruso
- Greta BurrellGirl
daughter of actor Ty Burrell
- Greta Lilia Bean (b. 2018)Girl
daughter of actors Lyndsy Fonseca and Noah Bean
- Greta Tintin Eleonora Ernman ThunbergGirl
Climate activist
Greta in pop culture
- Georgiana Evelina "Greta" O'DonnellGirl
main character in movie "According to Greta"
- Great Aunt GretaGirl
character in the Horrid Henry series
- GretaGirl
character in movie "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2"
- GretaGirl
human character in video game "Spyro the Dragon"
- Greta GrimlyGirl
character on TV's "Fargo"
- "GretaGirl
" song by Stevie Nicks
- Greta Van FleetGirl
American rock band