Metta
A girl's name of Swedish origin with 1,123 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
a female given name
Metta is a girl's baby name with Scandinavian roots, a Swedish and Danish short form of Margareta — the Scandinavian form of Margaret, from the Greek meaning 'pearl.' As a standalone name, Metta has been used in Nordic countries for generations.
In Buddhist tradition, metta is also the Pali word for loving-kindness — one of the four fundamental virtues of Buddhist practice. NBA player Ron Artest legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011, bringing this name into American popular consciousness with an unexpected cross-cultural resonance.
EtymologyShow more
Metta is built from 5 letters and two syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Swedish naming tradition, this brevity is common among names that have been worn down through centuries of use, shedding syllables along the way.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Metta creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Two-syllable names are the most common length in American naming, hitting a natural speech rhythm that works across formal and informal contexts.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Metta has 100+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 20 | #10292 | ▼ |
| 2010s | 62 | #13616 | ▲ |
| 2000s | 8 | #13280 | ▲ |
| 1990s | 5 | #15753 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 23 | #10756 | ▲ |
| 1970s | 19 | #8534 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 37 | #6580 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 50 | #4898 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 68 | #4056 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 115 | #2692 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 170 | #2335 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 160 | #1788 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 100 | #1257 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 161 | #803 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 125 | #647 | — |
The Story of Metta
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1924, Metta is a name steeped in history. Girls named Metta are most likely born between 1914 and 1934.
How rare is Metta?
With 1,123 total births on record, Metta remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 170 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Metta by the numbers
- Would fill 23 school buses
- Meeting one Metta per day would take 3.1 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(100 years, 1880–2021)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 8 | #11820 |
| 2020 | 12 | #8763 |
| 2019 | 5 | #17194 |
| 2018 | 9 | #11153 |
| 2017 | 8 | #12385 |
| 2015 | 11 | #9937 |
| 2014 | 9 | #11635 |
| 2013 | 9 | #11663 |
| 2012 | 5 | #18655 |
| 2010 | 6 | #16307 |
| 2009 | 8 | #13280 |
| 1998 | 5 | #15753 |
| 1986 | 5 | #12124 |
| 1985 | 8 | #8039 |
| 1983 | 5 | #11360 |
| 1981 | 5 | #11499 |
| 1978 | 7 | #8221 |
| 1976 | 5 | #10289 |
| 1971 | 7 | #7093 |
| 1969 | 5 | #8238 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metta a boy's or girl's name?
When was Metta most popular?
How popular is the name Metta?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2021