Margreta

Margreta is a feminine first name that occurs in Nordic regions as a variant of Margareta and means 'the pearl'. This meaning derives from the ancient Greek word margarites.

What does the name Margreta mean?

Margreta is a Nordic derivation of the name Margareta and means 'the pearl'. The origin of the term goes back to the ancient Greek word margarites as well as the Latin margarita for 'pearl'. In the Middle Ages, the name spread through the veneration of Saint Margareta of Antioch, who lived around 305 and is considered one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. In the German-speaking world, Margreta is rather unusual, while the variants Margarete, Margarethe, Margareta, and Margaretha are more common. A popular short form of Margreta in Germany is Greta. International forms of the name include Margaret (English), Marguerite (French), Margherita (Italian), Margarida (Portuguese), and Margarita (Spanish, Russian, Bulgarian).

Where does the name Margreta come from?

The name Margreta has its roots in the Latin word margarita, which goes back to the ancient Greek margarites, which in turn comes from Persian.

How do you pronounce Margreta?

The pronunciation of Margreta is three syllables and clearly structured. In German, the name is usually pronounced as 'Mar-gre-ta' [maʁˈgʁeːta]. It begins with an open a sound that conveys warmth and groundedness. The stressed middle syllable, which contains a prolonged e, gives the name a sonorous breadth and a calm, sustaining tension. The hard t before the open ending '-a' sets a precise accent. Thus, Margreta appears as a classic name that seems traditional and dignified.

When is the name day of Margreta?

The most important name day for Margreta is celebrated on July 20th in memory of Saint Margareta of Antioch.

Popularity

In Germany, Margreta is a rare first name. In 2016, it ranked 4,471st on the list of the most common female first names. Its best placement was in 2013 at 3,816th. In the last ten years, Margreta has been given as a first name less than 10 times, which places it at 9,317th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 9,043rd.

Nicknames & pet names

Greta / Gretchen / Maggi / Mara / Marga / Perla

Famous people

• Margreta Diersch (German writer)