Girtha
A girl's name of Germanic origin with 597 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Girtha is a two-syllable girl's name with a open, warm sound — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. With 597 recorded U.S. births since 1896, it sits in a sweet spot: recognizable enough to be a real name, uncommon enough to turn heads.
Girtha is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Girtha is a girl's baby name, a variant of Gertha or Bertha, which is of Germanic origin, from the Old High German beraht, meaning 'bright' or 'shining.' Gertha gives the name a slightly softer G- opening.
Girtha was used primarily in the American South in the early to mid-20th century. It has the old-fashioned, unhurried quality of names from that era — a name that sounds like it belongs to a woman who made biscuits from scratch and knew everyone in her county by name.
EtymologyShow more
Girtha is cataloged under the Germanic naming tradition. Germanic names have ancient roots in compound constructions — typically pairing elements meaning things like 'strength,' 'counsel,' 'fame,' or 'protection.'
In the U.S., Girtha has been recorded as a girl's name since 1896, with 597 total births. Browse the Germanic names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Girtha has 52+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1896.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 28 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 95 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 118 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 156 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 133 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 51 | ▲ |
| 1890s | 16 | — |
The Story of Girtha
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1919, Girtha is a name steeped in history. Girls named Girtha are most likely born between 1909 and 1929.
How rare is Girtha?
With 597 total births on record, Girtha remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1896, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 156 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Girtha by the numbers
- Would fill 12 school buses
- Meeting one Girtha per day would take 1.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(52 years, 1896–1959)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | 6 | #5809 |
| 1951 | 10 | #3577 |
| 1950 | 12 | #3125 |
| 1949 | 10 | #3472 |
| 1948 | 7 | #4337 |
| 1947 | 9 | #3822 |
| 1946 | 9 | #3500 |
| 1945 | 5 | #4811 |
| 1944 | 11 | #2831 |
| 1943 | 13 | #2608 |
| 1942 | 13 | #2584 |
| 1941 | 6 | #4135 |
| 1940 | 12 | #2474 |
| 1939 | 8 | #3247 |
| 1938 | 6 | #4023 |
| 1937 | 9 | #3021 |
| 1936 | 9 | #2951 |
| 1935 | 15 | #2142 |
| 1934 | 11 | #2632 |
| 1933 | 17 | #1931 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1896–1959