Claretha: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

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	–	–	–	–
1910s	17	2	–	#2,702
1920s	105	11	+518%	#2,353
1930s	216	22	+106%	#1,332
1940s	282	28	+31%	#1,359
1950s	298	30	+6%	#1,501
1960s	133	13	-55%	#2,829
1970s	41	4	-69%	#5,849
1980s	17	2	-59%	#8,288
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

#2,702

1920s

105

+518%

#2,353

1930s

216

+106%

#1,332

1940s

282

+31%

#1,359

1950s

298

+6%

#1,501

1960s

133

-55%

#2,829

1970s

-69%

#5,849

1980s

-59%

#8,288

1990s

–

2000s

–

2010s

–

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Claretha

Claretha 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 1918, 1,109 American babies have been named Claretha. Its peak came in 1948, when 41 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1940s.

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

How old are people named Claretha?

The median living Claretha is about 72 years old; half are between 65 and 79. An estimated 700 people named Claretha are alive in the United States today.

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

Claretha 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	–	–
1975	9	#6,057
1970	7	#6,468
1965	14	#3,427
1960	19	#2,830
1955	21	#2,414
1950	38	#1,501
1945	25	#1,666
1940	23	#1,642
1935	18	#1,857
1930	21	#1,761
1925	6	#4,528
1920	9	#3,384
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Claretha?

The median living Claretha is about 72 years old. Half of all living Clarethas are between 65 and 79 years old.

How many people named Claretha are alive today?

An estimated 700 people named Claretha are alive in the United States, based on 1,109 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Claretha mean?

A female given name of African-American usage, most popular in the mid-20th century.

How popular is the name Claretha in 2025?

Claretha 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 Claretha?

1,109 babies have been named Claretha in the United States since 1918, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Claretha most popular?

Claretha peaked in 1948, when 41 newborns received the name.

Is Claretha a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Claretha rising or falling?

Claretha has been roughly stable over the past decade.

Claretha

Claretha popularity over time

The story of Claretha

How old are people named Claretha?

Claretha year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Claretha