Back to all names
Girl

Greta

Pearl (dim. of Margareta)

Origin

GreekGermanic

Used in

itdeen

Popularity

#9 in the Italian baby-name ranking

Origin and meaning of Greta

Greta is the German and Scandinavian short form of Margareta, which goes back to the Greek margarítēs, 'pearl'. It keeps that luminous, precious meaning distilled into two crisp, elegant syllables. Very common in Germany and Northern Europe, it is also well known in Italy, prized for its firm, international sound. The great actress Greta Garbo carried its allure around the world.

Variants around the world

How Greta sounds in other languages.

GreteGretchenMargareta

Famous people

  • Greta Garbo— actress

Settled on Greta? Now build the registry

Start a free baby registry for {{name}} and share one link with friends and family.

Names you might also like

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Greta mean?

The name Greta means Pearl (dim. of Margareta).

What is the origin of the name Greta?

Origin of Greta: Greek and Germanic.

What are the international variants of the name Greta?

International variants of Greta: Grete, Gretchen, and Margareta.