Netta

A girl's name of Hebrew origin with 1,107 recorded U.S. births.

Girl's nameRare nameNot ranked recently

Meaning & Origin

A taxonomic genus within the family Anatidae – diving ducks called pochards.

Netta is a girl's baby name of Hebrew origin, a diminutive of names like Annette, Janet, or Jeanette — all ultimately tracing back to the Hebrew Yohanan meaning 'God is gracious.' In Hebrew, neta also means 'plant, seedling' — a lovely botanical meaning in its own right.

Netta has the compact, jewel-like quality of a diminutive that works perfectly as a standalone name — intimate and bright, with the warmth of a nickname and the elegance of a name that doesn't need more syllables to make its impression. Eurovision winner Netta brought the name into global pop culture in 2018.

EtymologyShow more

Though Netta dates back to 1880 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Hebrew classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.

Netta’s 1,107 recorded births provide enough of a footprint to establish it as a real, chosen name in American culture — not a typo or a one-off, but a deliberate selection by hundreds of families.

At a Glance

1,107

Total births

Since 1880

1922

Peak

23 births

1880

First recorded

144 years of data

Compare Netta with another name

Popularity Over Time

Netta has 112+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.

First appeared: 1880Peak: 1922 (23 births)

Popularity by Decade

Decade-by-decade popularity data for Netta
Decade	Births	Avg Rank	Trend
2020s	26	#11467	▼
2010s	62	#13356	▲
2000s	34	#15268	▲
1990s	23	#10659	▼
1980s	30	#11162	▲
1970s	23	#9047	▼
1960s	68	#5902	▼
1950s	129	#3657	▲
1940s	121	#2961	▲
1930s	114	#2808	▼
1920s	155	#2448	▲
1910s	136	#2049	▲
1900s	52	#1702	▼
1890s	72	#1212	▲
1880s	62	#947	—

The Story of Netta

A Greatest Generation name

Peaking in 1922, Netta is a name steeped in history. Girls named Netta are most likely born between 1912 and 1932.

How rare is Netta?

With 1,107 total births on record, Netta 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 155 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.

Netta by the numbers

Would fill 23 school buses
Meeting one Netta per day would take 3 years

Year-by-Year Data

View complete yearly data(112 years, 1880–2023)

Year-by-year popularity data for the name Netta
Year	Births	Rank	Change
2023	11	#9430	+3 (37.5%)
2021	8	#11884	+1 (14.3%)
2020	7	#13087	+1 (16.7%)
2019	6	#15075	0
2018	6	#15146	-6 (-50.0%)
2017	12	#9187	+6 (100.0%)
2016	6	#15694	-2 (-25.0%)
2015	8	#12687	0
2014	8	#12759	-1 (-11.1%)
2013	9	#11705	+2 (28.6%)
2012	7	#14592	-1 (-12.5%)
2009	8	#13348	+3 (60.0%)
2008	5	#19639	-2 (-28.6%)
2007	7	#15040	+1 (16.7%)
2005	6	#15886	-2 (-25.0%)
2004	8	#12426	+2 (33.3%)
1996	6	#12976	-3 (-33.3%)
1991	9	#9124	+1 (12.5%)
1990	8	#9878	+3 (60.0%)
1989	5	#13842	-3 (-37.5%)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Netta a boy's or girl's name?

Netta is primarily a girl's name.

When was Netta most popular?

Netta reached its peak popularity in 1922 with 23 births that year. It is not currently in the top rankings.

How popular is the name Netta?

Netta is not currently in the top rankings but has been given to 1,107 babies in the U.S. since 1880. Its peak was in 1922.

Explore More

By Length5-letter names By OriginHebrew names By EndingNames in -a TrendingRising names RankingsFull rankings

Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–2023