Given name · also Yiddish
Yetta
“ruler of the house”·“myrtle”·“resembling the myrtle leaf”
In Jewish use, Yetta has a related form in Esther. Interpretations include “myrtle” (Persian) and “resembling the myrtle leaf” (Persian). These may reflect different naming traditions. In Jewish use, Yetta has a related form in Etta. One American interpretation is “ruler of the house.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Yetta carries the interpretation “ruler of the house.” In Jewish use, Yetta has a related form in Esther. Interpretations include “myrtle” (Persian) and “resembling the myrtle leaf” (Persian). These may reflect different naming traditions. In Jewish use, Yetta has a related form in Etta. One American interpretation is “ruler of the house.”
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Yiddish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
How it developed
Yetta is used as a form of Henrietta.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Jewish use, Yetta has a related form in Esther. The history of Esther gives this family its wider story. Esther appears in biblical tradition, giving it a longstanding religious and cultural context.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Yetta through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 3,793
- 0 boys · 3,793 girls
- Most popular year
- 1916
- 197 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 5 in 2023. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 197 in 1916. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 573 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Yetta’s family of names
Yetta has a related form in Esther. Yetta is a form of Henrietta. Yetta has a related form in Etta.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 8
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
Similar names
If you love Yetta, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Ethyl
Ethyl is a feminine given name from Old English.
>99% girls
Elna
Elna is a feminine given name from Elin. It is used in Swedish, Danish, Finnish, and Faroese.
>99% girls
Bulah
“married” · “woman who is claimed as a wife”
>99% girls
Beulah
“married” · “woman who is claimed as a wife”
>99% girls
Edna
“one who brings pleasure; a delight”
>99% girls
Ouida
“a famous warrior”
>99% girls
Alvina
“triend of the elves” · “friend of the elves”
>99% girls
Elzie
“from the nobleman's estate”
19% boys · 81% girls