girl's name
Etta
ET-a
- Origin Germanic
- Gender Girl
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 1000 (E&W)
- Births on record 46,433
the United States
#931
2025 births
Etta is a girl's name of Germanic origin meaning "home ruler." It is a clipping of Henrietta, and shares its meaning with Henry, Harry and Harriet — all descended from Heimirich.
- Etta is a name of Germanic origin.
- Peaked in US records in 1920, when 803 babies were given the name.
- After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival in US records.
- Today about 1 in 1,559 babies in England and Wales is given this name.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 1.
Etta over time
Births per decade in the United States, 1880s to 2020s. Etta is more popular in England and Wales — see the country table below. The striped bar is the 2020s, still in progress — it covers 2020 to 2025, not a full ten years.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 3,973 |
| 1890s | 4,670 |
| 1900s | 4,003 |
| 1910s | 6,259 |
| 1920s | 6,971 |
| 1930s | 4,811 |
| 1940s | 3,797 |
| 1950s | 2,480 |
| 1960s | 1,463 |
| 1970s | 458 |
| 1980s | 237 |
| 1990s | 172 |
| 2000s | 342 |
| 2010s | 2,004 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 1,651 |
What Etta means
Etta means ruler of the household, inherited from Henrietta and ultimately Henry. It can also stand for Loretta or Marietta, in which case the meaning changes entirely.
Where Etta comes from
Etta is the tail end of Henrietta, itself the English form of the French Henriette, feminine of Henri — from the Germanic heim, home, and ric, ruler. The -etta ending is a borrowed Italian diminutive, so the name is a fragment of a fragment. It also serves as a short form of Loretta, Marietta and Rosetta. Etta James, born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938, took her stage name by splitting her own first name in two, and is the reason most people know it.
Etta in use
Our data marks Etta as reviving, peaking in 1920, at 148 in England and Wales. It first appears in our records in 1880. It belongs to the same Victorian pet-form revival as Nellie, Lottie, Maisie and Winnie — names that faded for a century and are now registered as full names in Britain.
How popular is Etta?
In 2025, Etta was given to 338 babies in England and Wales, ranking #148 that year. It is well established in England and Wales.
Where Etta is used
England and Wales figures withhold any name given to fewer than three babies in a year. The historical chart above uses US records, the only series running back to 1880. Data & sources.
Names that peaked alongside Etta
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents who like Etta also like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Etta over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
1 nickname for Etta
Each one is a name in its own right — the figure underneath is how it is doing today, so you can see which short forms are rising and which have faded.
Etta in other languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling names for Etta
Names from the same era that won't rhyme or share an initial with Etta — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common questions about Etta
What does the name Etta mean?
Etta means "home ruler," from the Germanic heim, home, and ric, ruler, by way of Henrietta.
Is Etta short for Henrietta?
Usually, though it also shortens Loretta, Marietta and Rosetta.
How did Etta James get her name?
She was born Jamesetta Hawkins and split her first name in two to make her stage name.
How popular is the name Etta?
In 2025, Etta was given to 338 babies in England and Wales, ranking #148 that year. It is well established in England and Wales.
Is Etta a girl's or a boy's name?
Etta is given almost entirely to girls in birth records.
How many syllables are in Etta?
Etta has 2 syllables.
When was Etta most popular?
Etta peaked in 1920, when 803 babies were given the name. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival.
What are the nicknames for Etta?
Etta is usually shortened to Ettie.
Is Etta a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Etta currently ranks #148 in the United States. After peaking in the 1920s it fell out of use, and is now climbing again — a classic revival. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.