Metha
A feminine name with multiple potential origins, including Indian (meaning "flower" or "clouds").
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Metha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Metha today is around 93 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Metha births was 1920 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Metha. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Metha is about 93 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Methas were born before 1943.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Metha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1920
9 babies that year
Average age
93
years old
1949 SSA rank
#5,784
Tracked since 1886
Popularity
Metha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Metha from the 1880s through to the 1940s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 50 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Metha by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Metha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Metha
The name Metha is believed to have its origins in ancient Sanskrit, an Indo-Aryan language that was widely used in the Indian subcontinent. It is derived from the Sanskrit word "medhā," which translates to "intelligence," "wisdom," or "sagacity." This name has been prevalent in Hindu culture for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Metha can be found in the ancient Hindu scriptures, the Vedas. The Vedas are a collection of hymns, prayers, and philosophical teachings that date back to around 1500 BCE. Within these sacred texts, the name Metha is mentioned in reference to goddesses and other divine entities associated with knowledge and intellectual prowess.
In Hindu mythology, Metha is also the name of a minor goddess who is revered as the embodiment of wisdom and mental acuity. She is often depicted as a young woman holding a book or a scroll, symbolizing her association with learning and scholarship.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Metha. One such person was Metha Devi (1673-1701), a Rajput princess from the Kingdom of Mewar in present-day Rajasthan, India. She was renowned for her intelligence, courage, and unwavering determination during a turbulent period in her kingdom's history.
Another prominent figure was Metha Das (1822-1891), a prominent Bengali writer and social reformer from British India. He was a pioneer in promoting women's education and advocating for the abolition of regressive social practices such as child marriage and the ill-treatment of widows.
In more recent times, Metha Wanita (1929-2010) was an Indonesian playwright and novelist who made significant contributions to the literary landscape of her country. Her works often explored themes of social injustice, gender equality, and the struggles of the working class.
Metha Samraat (1946-2018) was a renowned Indian classical dancer and choreographer who specialized in the Kathak dance form. She was widely praised for her graceful movements and her ability to captivate audiences with her performances.
Lastly, Metha Kapoor (born 1972) is a contemporary Indian journalist and author who has written extensively on issues related to politics, social justice, and human rights. Her fearless reporting and advocacy have earned her numerous accolades and awards.
People
Metha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Metha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with M
Other first names starting with M with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Metha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Metha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Metha going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Metha a common name?
We classify Metha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 149 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Metha most popular?
The single biggest year for Metha was 1920, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Metha is about 93 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Metha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Metha in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.