Total births
1,142
Girls' name · since 1900
Aretta
Since 1900, U.S. Social Security records show 1,142 babies named Aretta, peaking in 1923. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,142
- total births
- 1900–1991
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 24%
- born in that decade
Aretta sits outside today's top ranks for girls, with 1,142 recorded since 1900.
According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, Aretta has been recorded 1,142 times among girls since 1900, though it is not among the currently most-used girls names, with its heaviest use in the 1920s. This profile covers year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution, all derived directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1900 to 1991.
- 1,142 total births
- 1900–1991 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 24% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,142 girls have been named Aretta since 1900, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1991.
- 1,142
- total births
- 1900–1991
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 24%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
24% of everyone ever named Aretta was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
33 babies were named Aretta in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Aretta's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Aretta splits its recorded history at 1940: 36% of all births land in the more recent half, 64% in the earlier half, leaning more toward its earlier era than today's. The single quietest year was 1900 (5 births) -- compare that against the 1923 peak of 33 for a sense of just how much the name's popularity has swung.
Aretta at a glance
Last recorded 1991Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1900
Aretta popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1900–1991
- Peak year (1923)
- 33
- Annual births at peak, across 92 years of records
Aretta by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Aretta's strongest decade.
272 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 24% of all-time use.
Aretta births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1900s 44
1900s
44 births
- 1910s
1910s
210 births
- 1920s
1920s
272 births
- 1930s
1930s
200 births
- 1940s
1940s
149 births
- 1950s
1950s
130 births
- 1960s 93
1960s
93 births
- 1970s 33
1970s
33 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
- 1990s 6
1990s
6 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 272 births (24% of all-time use).
How Aretta compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Aretta's total volume
Aretta vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Aretta by state
Where Aretta concentrates geographically, total births since 1900
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | West Virginia | | 87 | 7.6% |
| #2 | Kentucky | | 10 | 0.9% |
| #3 | North Carolina | | 5 | 0.4% |
| #4 | Texas | | 5 | 0.4% |
West Virginia share of Aretta's total US births 7.6%
Even split
87 of 1,142 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 4 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Aretta? ▼
Aretta has been given to 1,142 babies in the U.S. since 1900, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1991. 33 babies were born in 1923, its single highest year.
When was Aretta most popular? ▼
Aretta was most popular in the 1920s decade with 272 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Aretta most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Aretta are West Virginia (87 births), Kentucky (10 births), North Carolina (5 births).
How long has the name Aretta been used? ▼
Records for Aretta go back to 1900, giving 92 years of history through 1991.
What names are similar to Aretta? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Arely, Areli, Aretha, Arelis, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Aretta's data
- Aretta's decade-level peak was the 1920s (272 total births); usage has since declined to 6 in the 1990s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- West Virginia records the most Arettas (87 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. West Virginia names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Aretta
Nearby Names Like Aretta
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Aretta
Arely Girl
#924 11,216 births
Areli Girl
#1422 6,624 births
Aretha Girl
5,656 births
Arelis Girl
#6994 1,015 births
Areanna Girl
645 births
Compare Aretta side by side: Aretta vs Arely Aretta vs Areli Aretta vs Aretha
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1900–1991 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Aretta: Baby Name Since 1900 - 1,142 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/aretta. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Aretta draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.