Girls' name · since 1885
Margretta
Since 1885, U.S. Social Security records show 837 babies named Margretta, peaking in 1921. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- #8,495 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 837
- born since 1885
- 1920s
- peak decade
837 girls have been named Margretta since 1885, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Margretta has 837 recorded births among girls since 1885, per the U.S. Social Security Administration, though it falls outside today's most-used girls names, busiest in the 1920s -- see the year-by-year trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution below, all drawn directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1885 to 1989.
- #8,495 of 72,339 all-time among girls
- 837 born since 1885
- 1920s peak decade
Data updated Aug 2026
The verdict
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Margretta ranks #8,495 of 72,339 girls' names by all-time recorded births (highest first). 837 born since 1885, peaking in the 1920s.
- #8,495 of 72,339
- all-time among girls
- 837
- born since 1885
- 1920s
- peak decade
Margretta's 837 recorded births place it above 88.25% of the 72,339 girls names in the full SSA archive.
The state file records this name in 1 jurisdictions, led by Pennsylvania.
Margretta's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Splitting Margretta's full recorded timeline at 1939, 48% of its total births fall in the more recent half of the record versus 52% in the earlier half -- a fairly even split across the full record. Its quietest year on record was 1885, with just 5 recorded births -- worth weighing against the 1921 peak of 22 to see the full range of the name's swing in popularity.
Margretta popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1885–1989
- Peak year (1921)
- 22
- Annual births at peak, across 105 years of records
Margretta by decade
1920s is the heaviest window (162 births, 19% of the file).
1920s was Margretta's strongest decade.
162 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 19% of all-time use.
Margretta births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1880s 24
1880s
24 births
- 1890s 19
1890s
19 births
- 1900s 23
1900s
23 births
- 1910s
1910s
118 births
- 1920s
1920s
162 births
- 1930s
1930s
99 births
- 1940s
1940s
138 births
- 1950s
1950s
119 births
- 1960s
1960s
91 births
- 1970s 24
1970s
24 births
- 1980s 20
1980s
20 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 162 births (19% of all-time use).
How Margretta compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Margretta's total volume
Margretta by state
Where Margretta concentrates geographically, total births since 1885
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | | 26 | 3.1% |
26 of 837 births nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Margretta? ▼
Where does Margretta sit in the SSA name archive? ▼
When was Margretta most popular? ▼
Where is Margretta most popular? ▼
How long has the name Margretta been used? ▼
What names are similar to Margretta? ▼
What to do with Margretta's data
- Margretta's decade-level peak was the 1920s (162 total births); usage has since declined to 20 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Pennsylvania records the most Margrettas (26 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Pennsylvania names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Margretta
Nearby Names Like Margretta
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Margretta
Compare Margretta side by side: Margretta vs Mary Margretta vs Margaret Margretta vs Maria
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Nationwide names with similar peak year or record span
Two nationwide peer axes for Margretta: closest SSA peak year, and closest first→latest record span. Distinct from the spelling and current-rank neighborhoods above.
Similar peak year (~1921)
Similar record span (~104 yrs)
Peak year is the single SSA year with the most births for that name; record span is first-to-latest year in the national files, not a recommendation or shared origin claim.
Data Sources
Data as of August 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1885–1989 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Margretta draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.