Girl
Germanic
2 syllables
Greta
GREH-tuh
/ˈɡrɛt.ə/
"Pearl" — a sleek Scandinavian gem with timeless cool and quiet strength
Greta is a short form of Margareta, itself derived from the Greek margarites meaning pearl. It rose to fame in the early 20th century largely through Swedish actress Greta Garbo, whose icy elegance defined the name's image. After decades of quiet use, Greta has experienced a sharp revival in the 21st century, boosted by climate activist Greta Thunberg and director Greta Gerwig.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesGre · ta
GenderGirl
OriginGermanic
Root WordMargareta
MeaningPearl
PopularityEstablished
Peak Year1928
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DayNovember 16
Nicknames
GretEta
About the Name Greta
Greta is a short form of Margareta, meaning pearl in Greek. It carries all the elegance of Margaret in a crisper, more modern package.
Greta is widely used across Scandinavia and Germanic Europe, though it originates as a German diminutive of Margareta rather than a purely Norse name.
Yes. After decades of decline, Greta has been rising since the 2010s, partly driven by the fame of Greta Thunberg and Greta Gerwig.
Greta Louise, Greta Elise, and Greta Vivienne are elegant combinations. Greta Rose is a simple, classic pairing.
Gretas are often described as independent, intelligent, and quietly formidable — a name that suggests cool confidence rather than overt warmth.
Both are short forms of Margareta. Gretel is more distinctly German and associated with the fairy tale, while Greta feels more cosmopolitan and contemporary.
Personality of Greta
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Greta
Creativity
80%
Elegance
88%
Independence
90%
Intelligence
86%
Strength
78%
Warmth
64%
Famous People Named Greta
G
Greta Garbo
Swedish-American actress and Hollywood legend famous for her reclusive mystique
G
Greta Thunberg
Swedish climate activist who sparked the global Fridays for Future movement
G
Greta Gerwig
American actress and filmmaker who directed Lady Bird and Barbie
Middle Names for Greta
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Greta
Greta Louise
Greta Anne
Greta Marie
Greta Elise
Greta Jane
Greta Vivienne
Greta Claire
Greta Sophia
Greta Rose
Greta Ingrid
Names Similar to Greta
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Greta
1200s
Margareta spreads across Europe; Greta emerges as a Germanic short form
1928
Greta Garbo's Hollywood peak drives the name to its highest US popularity
1990s
Greta enters a quiet period, seen as old-fashioned but beloved by vintage name enthusiasts
2018
Greta Thunberg's climate activism reignites global interest in the name
Numerology & Symbolism of Greta
6
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
6
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Virgo
7
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Silver
💎
Lucky Stone
Pearl
🌸
Lucky Flower
Lily of the Valley
Greta Around the World
How Greta is written in different languages and scripts
غريتا
Arabic
グレータ
Japanese
Грета
Russian
그레타
Korean
格蕾塔
Chinese
Γκρέτα
Greek
ग्रेटा
Hindi
גרטה
Hebrew
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