Loretta Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Loretta is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Loretta?
Loretta is spelled L-O-R-E-T-T-A. The name has 7 letters.
Loretta at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Loretta means “bay laurel plant.”
- Origin
- Loretta is commonly regarded as a diminutive form of the Latin name Laura.
- Pronunciation
- LOH-ret-uh · 3 syllables
Loretta Popularity in 2025
Rank#606
Recorded Births485
- Girls usage rose 71 places to #606 and recorded 62 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Loretta Mean?
Loretta means “bay laurel plant.”
Origin: Loretta is commonly regarded as a diminutive form of the Latin name Laura.
How Do You Pronounce Loretta?
PronunciationLOH-ret-uh
Syllables3
Loretta Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2002 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 485 | #606 |
| 2024 | Girls | 423 | #677 |
| 2023 | Girls | 371 | #757 |
| 2022 | Girls | 346 | #810 |
| 2021 | Girls | 300 | #901 |
| 2020 | Girls | 272 | #942 |
| 2019 | Girls | 252 | #1,020 |
| 2018 | Girls | 232 | #1,085 |
| 2017 | Girls | 229 | #1,102 |
| 2016 | Girls | 240 | #1,082 |
| 2015 | Girls | 219 | #1,154 |
| 2014 | Girls | 179 | #1,321 |
| 2013 | Girls | 121 | #1,713 |
| 2012 | Girls | 124 | #1,690 |
| 2011 | Girls | 111 | #1,817 |
| 2010 | Girls | 97 | #2,043 |
| 2009 | Girls | 84 | #2,316 |
| 2008 | Girls | 112 | #1,890 |
| 2007 | Girls | 105 | #1,957 |
| 2006 | Girls | 113 | #1,809 |
| 2005 | Girls | 103 | #1,878 |
| 2004 | Girls | 90 | #2,030 |
| 2003 | Girls | 80 | #2,167 |
| 2002 | Girls | 76 | #2,178 |
When Was Loretta Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
1938 · Girls
3,913 recorded births
National rank #62
1939 · Girls
3,769 recorded births
National rank #65
1937 · Girls
3,673 recorded births
National rank #63
1940 · Girls
3,502 recorded births
National rank #69
Where Loretta Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| WI | #127 | 41 |
| IA | #173 | 18 |
| MN | #186 | 29 |
| ND | #195 | 5 |
| SD | #233 | 5 |
| ID | #308 | 7 |
| IN | #333 | 21 |
| MO | #373 | 16 |