Weta
Wētā is the common name for a group of about 100 insect species in the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae endemic to New Zealand. They are giant flightless crickets, and some are among the heaviest insects in the world. Generally nocturnal, most small species are carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivorous.
Meaning & Origin of Weta
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Wētā is the common name for a group of about 100 insect species in the families Anostostomatidae and Rhaphidophoridae endemic to New Zealand. They are giant flightless crickets, and some are among the heaviest insects in the world. Generally nocturnal, most small species are carnivores and scavengers while the larger species are herbivorous.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Weta
Weta first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 1920, with 7 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 1920, when 7 Wetas were born — ranking #3,957 that year. As of 2026, Weta ranks #4,805 for baby girls with 5 births, with steady use. In total, more than 17 Wetas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1920s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Names that sound like Weta
Phonetically similar names — useful when Weta is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
- Wata
- Wita
- Wettie
- Ueda
- Uita
- Wota
- Yetta
- Witty
- Whitty
- Heta
- Wet
- Wetter
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Weta
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About the name Weta
Weta is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1920 and has accumulated 17 births in the dataset. Weta's peak popularity came in 1920 when it ranked #3,957. Use the chart and map above to compare Weta's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1920 →
- Names of the 1920s →
- Names starting with "W" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.