Odetta: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

Rank 2025

–

among girls

Babies in 2025

named Odetta

How common

–

girls born in 2025

Peak year

1922

22 babies

All-time total

628

#10,234 all-time among girls

First recorded

1900

in Social Security records

Odetta popularity over time

628 babies have been named Odetta 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

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	15	2	–	#2,092
1910s	110	11	+633%	#1,900
1920s	140	14	+27%	#1,879
1930s	93	9	-34%	#1,823
1940s	33	3	-65%	#3,427
1950s	56	6	+70%	#3,180
1960s	113	11	+102%	#3,040
1970s	58	6	-49%	#3,895
1980s	–	–	–	–
1990s	–	–	–	–
2000s	–	–	–	–
2010s	–	–	–	–
2020s (to 2025)	10	2	–	#17,052

The story of Odetta

Odetta 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, 628 American babies have been named Odetta. Its peak came in 1922, when 22 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 Odetta stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Odetta?

The median living Odetta is about 62 years old; half are between 56 and 73. An estimated 300 people named Odetta 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.

Odetta 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	5	#17,052
2023	–	–
2022	5	#17,133
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	–	–
1970	11	#4,980
1965	6	#6,311
1960	16	#3,172
1955	5	#6,471
1950	12	#3,180
1945	5	#5,066
1940	–	–
1935	10	#2,883
1930	14	#2,392
1925	16	#2,359
1920	13	#2,693
1915	11	#2,653
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	5	#2,144
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Famous people named Odetta

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

1 Odetta American singer (1930–2008) Contemporary

Portraits from Wikipedia (Wikimedia Commons).

Frequently asked questions

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

How old is the average Odetta?

The median living Odetta is about 62 years old. Half of all living Odettas are between 56 and 73 years old.

How many people named Odetta are alive today?

An estimated 300 people named Odetta are alive in the United States, based on 628 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

What does the name Odetta mean?

A female given name, variant of Odette.

How popular is the name Odetta in 2025?

Odetta 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 Odetta?

628 babies have been named Odetta in the United States since 1900, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Odetta most popular?

Odetta peaked in 1922, when 22 newborns received the name.

Is Odetta a boy or girl name?

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

Is the name Odetta rising or falling?

Odetta is on the rise, noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.

Who are famous people named Odetta?

Well-known people named Odetta include Odetta (singer).

Names like Odetta

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

Compare Odetta with similar names → More names starting with O →