Baby Names US
girls' name ★ peaked 1923

Aretta

Gender Girl Rank 2025 Below top lists
Rank 2025
–
among girls
Babies in 2025
<5
named Aretta
How common
–
girls born in 2025
Peak year
1923
33 babies
All-time total
1,142
#6,839 all-time among girls
First recorded
1900
in Social Security records

Aretta popularity over time

1,142 babies have been named Aretta 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
0.010.030.040.0518801900192019401960198020002020Peak 1908Girls

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 44 4 – #1,048
1910s 210 21 +377% #1,122
1920s 272 27 +30% #1,390
1930s 200 20 -26% #1,473
1940s 149 15 -25% #2,113
1950s 130 13 -13% #2,544
1960s 93 9 -28% #3,271
1970s 33 3 -65% #4,551
1980s 5 1 -85% #10,494
1990s 6 1 +20% #11,625
2000s – – – –
2010s – – – –
2020s (to 2025) – – – –

The story of Aretta

Aretta 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, 1,142 American babies have been named Aretta. Its peak came in 1923, when 33 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1920s.

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

How old are people named Aretta?

The median living Aretta is about 72 years old; half are between 63 and 81. An estimated 400 people named Aretta are alive in the United States today.

median 72 020406080100

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

Aretta 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 – –
2022 – –
2021 – –
2020 – –
2019 – –
2018 – –
2017 – –
2016 – –
2015 – –
2014 – –
2013 – –
2012 – –
2011 – –
2010 – –
2009 – –
2008 – –
2007 – –
2006 – –
2005 – –
2004 – –
2003 – –
2002 – –
2001 – –
2000 – –
1995 – –
1990 – –
1985 – –
1980 5 #10,494
1975 – –
1970 7 #6,407
1965 15 #3,271
1960 9 #4,452
1955 18 #2,638
1950 16 #2,544
1945 13 #2,467
1940 15 #2,113
1935 13 #2,311
1930 23 #1,664
1925 29 #1,537
1920 29 #1,514
1915 24 #1,479
1910 10 #1,527
1905 – –
1900 5 #1,948
1895 – –
1890 – –
1885 – –
1880 – –

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Aretta?

The median living Aretta is about 72 years old. Half of all living Arettas are between 63 and 81 years old.

How many people named Aretta are alive today?

An estimated 400 people named Aretta are alive in the United States, based on 1,142 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Aretta in 2025?

Aretta 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 Aretta?

1,142 babies have been named Aretta in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Aretta most popular?

Aretta peaked in 1923, when 33 newborns received the name.

Is Aretta a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Aretta rising or falling?

Aretta has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Names like Aretta

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

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