1 - Deep Purple - Emmaretta -  US - 1968-
Deep Purple – Emmaretta – US – 1968- (Photo credit: Affendaddy)

Emma is a huge hit, while this musical name is barely a whisper.

Thanks to E.W. for suggesting Emmaretta as our Baby Name of the Day.

If you’re a big fan of hard rock legends Deep Purple you might know that they recorded a single called “Emmaretta” early in their career.  It wasn’t a hit – the band’s label was nearly broke, and the original line-up disintegrated soon after.

What you may not know is that the song was written by original lead singer Rod Evans, in a bid to impress a singer-actress.

Emmaretta, did you get my letter
I sent it to you, oh Emmaretta

Emmaretta Marks was appearing in the musical Hair at the time, and working as a background singer.

Evans was replaced by Ian Gillan shortly after the song’s recording, and if Marks and Evans ever went on a date, that fact is lost to time.  In fact, Marks is missing from the history of rock and roll – and if her story is true, that’s a shame.  It’s said that she recorded the introduction to the Rolling Stones’ “Gimme Shelter,” but was not credited for her haunting oo, oo vocals.  Merry Clayton is well known as Mick Jagger’s collaborator on the track – and it is clear that her work is the bulk of the singing – but it’s possible there was more than one female voice.

So where did the lovely Ms. Marks get her name?

Emmaretta has never cracked the US Top 1000, but she appears in the census records with some frequency.  -etta endings had their day in the nineteenth century.  In 1898, Henrietta and Loretta were big, plus Etta stood on her own, too.  More obscure -etta names were heard: Rosetta, Marietta, Zetta, Concetta, Margaretta, Izetta, Gretta, Coletta, Metta, Lucetta, Arletta, Doretta, Floretta, Jetta, Louetta, Vietta.  The ending stayed in use for decades.  Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in 1938.

Given that Emma was a popular name, too, it feels inevitable that someone would smoosh the two together.  After all, the elaborated Emmeline had a good run, too.

But how would Emmaretta wear today?

She’s in sparing use.  This Nameberry thread mentions a daughter named Emmaretta London, and British Baby Names found Emmaretta Silvia Ophelia in 1859.

On the negative side, I fret that Emmaretta would be heard as “amaretto” by most.  That’s not entirely negative – the Italian amoretto – cupid – comes from the Latin amor – love.  The liqueur gets its name from amaro – bitter, as in the bitter almond that gives the drink its distinctive flavor.

But on the plus side:

  • The wildly talented Etta James lends the name some swing.  Carson Daly welcomed a daughter named Etta this year, and Nameberry called her “The Most Surprising Comeback Name” for 2013 while noting that Emma and Ella lead logically to Etta.
  • Emmaretta plays it safe, serving as an elaboration of fast favorite Emma.  But she’s also an unusual twist on the name – something just a little different.
  • We love long names for girls: Isabella, Olivia, Samantha.

If you’re after a rarity with a vintage feel and a rock edge, Emmaretta might be a possibility to ponder.

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About Abby Sandel

Whether you're naming a baby, or just all about names, you've come to the right place! Appellation Mountain is a haven for lovers of obscure gems and enduring classics alike.

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What do you think?

6 Comments

  1. Checking this name out because I’m re-binge-watching “Once Upon a Time” (Emma!) and watched “Four Weddings and a Funeral” (UK version) for the first time over the past weekend. In the latter, “Henrietta” was a character in it, so this name seems intriguing.

  2. Lovely name, with such an interesting musical history. It doesn’t sound anything like amaretto to me – maybe because in my accent, E and A, and A and O, are very distinct from one another.

    I think people would snap this name up in a heartbeat if they knew it existed.

  3. I like this name although I never heard of it until today. Great post! Reading it made me think of another name I love – Allegretta, nickname Gretta. Is it doable? My husband and I love Allegra, but can’t get past the allergy medicine reference. Allegretta doesn’t have that problem! 🙂

  4. It’s pretty and offbeat. I do automatically think Amaretto but it’s still a pretty sound. I didn’t know that Etta James was named Jamesetta.

  5. I automatically thought of Amaretto when I read the name, but I don’t see it as a bad thing. It lends a name I’ve never heard of a little bit of familiarity. I love the clunky southern feel of this name. Thanks for choosing it as the NotD!