Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1968

Aretha

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Aretha
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1968
543 babies
All-time total
5,656
#2,369 all-time among girls
First recorded
1900
in Social Security records

Aretha popularity over time

5,656 babies have been named Aretha since 1900, according to official Social Security records. Switch measure to see births per year or the yearly rank.

Measure
Births per 1,000 babies of that sex, comparable across eras
0.10.20.30.418801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1968Girls

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade Girls Per year Change Best rank
1880s – – – –
1890s – – – –
1900s 64 6 – #1,144
1910s 222 22 +247% #1,158
1920s 344 34 +55% #1,127
1930s 339 34 -1% #1,133
1940s 315 32 -7% #1,377
1950s 355 36 +13% #1,550
1960s 2,008 201 +466% #398
1970s 1,442 144 -28% #639
1980s 368 37 -74% #1,937
1990s 123 12 -67% #4,011
2000s 30 3 -76% #12,335
2010s 28 3 -7% #13,622
2020s (to 2025) 18 3 +7% #13,625

The story of Aretha

Aretha is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1900, 5,656 American babies have been named Aretha. Its peak came in 1968, when 543 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1960s.

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 Aretha stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Aretha?

The median living Aretha is about 56 years old; half are between 51 and 60. An estimated 4,400 people named Aretha are alive in the United States today.

median 56 020406080100

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Aretha year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year Girls Girls rank
2025 – –
2024 – –
2023 6 #13,625
2022 6 #13,770
2021 6 #13,650
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 5 #15,947
2017 5 #16,148
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 6 #14,805
2012 – –
2011 5 #17,050
2010 7 #13,622
2009 – –
2008 7 #14,003
2007 – –
2006 5 #17,448
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 7 #12,335
2001 6 #13,684
2000 5 #15,262
1995 9 #8,829
1990 25 #4,011
1985 26 #3,331
1980 55 #1,937
1975 117 #1,026
1970 257 #639
1965 148 #818
1960 59 #1,431
1955 30 #1,940
1950 36 #1,550
1945 34 #1,377
1940 28 #1,444
1935 36 #1,183
1930 37 #1,234
1925 46 #1,137
1920 31 #1,442
1915 30 #1,287
1910 10 #1,526
1905 6 #1,711
1900 5 #1,947
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Famous people named Aretha

The most globally famous bearers of the name, ranked by fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).

  1. 1 Aretha Franklin Aretha Franklin American soul singer (1942–2018) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Aretha, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Aretha?

The median living Aretha is about 56 years old. Half of all living Arethas are between 51 and 60 years old.

How many people named Aretha are alive today?

An estimated 4,400 people named Aretha are alive in the United States, based on 5,656 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Aretha in 2025?

Aretha did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Aretha?

5,656 babies have been named Aretha in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Aretha most popular?

Aretha peaked in 1968, when 543 newborns received the name.

Is Aretha a boy or girl name?

Aretha is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Aretha rising or falling?

Aretha has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Who are famous people named Aretha?

Well-known people named Aretha include Aretha Franklin (singer).

Names like Aretha

Names that sound and feel close to Aretha: shared sounds, similar era, similar popularity. Each links to its full history.

Compare Aretha with similar names → More names starting with A →