Loretta
A female given name from Latin, variant of Lauretta, Italian diminutive of Laura; or a form of Loreto.
Every Loretta since 1880 — 178,066 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Loretta
Loretta is uncommon for girls in the United States, ranked #606 in 2025 with 485 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 178,066 American babies have been named Loretta. Its peak came in 1938, when 3,931 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1930s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Loretta stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Loretta year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 485 | #606 | — | — |
| 2024 | 423 | #677 | — | — |
| 2023 | 371 | #757 | — | — |
| 2022 | 346 | #810 | — | — |
| 2021 | 300 | #902 | — | — |
| 2020 | 272 | #943 | — | — |
| 2019 | 252 | #1,023 | — | — |
| 2018 | 232 | #1,087 | — | — |
| 2017 | 229 | #1,103 | — | — |
| 2016 | 240 | #1,085 | — | — |
| 2015 | 219 | #1,154 | — | — |
| 2014 | 179 | #1,324 | — | — |
| 2013 | 121 | #1,720 | — | — |
| 2012 | 124 | #1,695 | — | — |
| 2011 | 111 | #1,824 | — | — |
| 2010 | 97 | #2,052 | — | — |
| 2009 | 84 | #2,328 | — | — |
| 2008 | 112 | #1,896 | — | — |
| 2007 | 105 | #1,963 | — | — |
| 2006 | 113 | #1,818 | — | — |
| 2005 | 103 | #1,887 | — | — |
| 2004 | 90 | #2,033 | — | — |
| 2003 | 80 | #2,180 | — | — |
| 2002 | 76 | #2,191 | — | — |
| 2001 | 77 | #2,141 | — | — |
| 2000 | 92 | #1,859 | — | — |
| 1995 | 124 | #1,334 | — | — |
| 1990 | 207 | #922 | — | — |
| 1985 | 287 | #645 | — | — |
| 1980 | 418 | #494 | — | — |
| 1975 | 778 | #301 | — | — |
| 1970 | 1,365 | #231 | 5 | #5,158 |
| 1965 | 1,839 | #185 | 5 | #4,240 |
| 1960 | 3,191 | #138 | 13 | #2,387 |
| 1955 | 3,431 | #123 | 11 | #2,509 |
| 1950 | 2,720 | #120 | 7 | #3,207 |
| 1945 | 2,661 | #107 | 8 | #2,677 |
| 1940 | 3,502 | #69 | 11 | #2,263 |
| 1935 | 3,365 | #69 | 14 | #1,997 |
| 1930 | 2,482 | #105 | 13 | #2,250 |
| 1925 | 2,255 | #122 | 9 | #3,052 |
| 1920 | 2,122 | #120 | — | — |
| 1915 | 1,810 | #115 | 5 | #4,160 |
| 1910 | 655 | #124 | — | — |
| 1905 | 527 | #121 | — | — |
| 1900 | 535 | #121 | — | — |
| 1895 | 365 | #126 | — | — |
| 1890 | 228 | #156 | — | — |
| 1885 | 91 | #198 | — | — |
| 1880 | 41 | #243 | — | — |
Famous people named Loretta
- Loretta Young Actor · 1913–2000
- Loretta Lynn Singer · b. 1932
- Loretta Swit Actor · b. 1937
- Loretta Devine Actor · b. 1949
- Loretta Lynch Politician · b. 1959
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Loretta mean?
A female given name from Latin, variant of Lauretta, Italian diminutive of Laura; or a form of Loreto.
How popular is the name Loretta in 2025?
Loretta ranked #606 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, with 485 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Loretta?
178,066 babies have been named Loretta in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Loretta most popular?
Loretta peaked in 1938, when 3,931 newborns received the name.
Is Loretta a boy or girl name?
Loretta is overwhelmingly a girl's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Loretta rising or falling?
Loretta is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Loretta?
Well-known people named Loretta include Loretta Young (actor), Loretta Lynn (singer), Loretta Swit (actor).