Total births
1,214
Girls' name · since 1897
Oletha
Since 1897, U.S. Social Security records show 1,214 babies named Oletha, peaking in 1923. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 1,214
- total births
- 1897–1980
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1,214 girls have been named Oletha since 1897, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Oletha recorded 1,214 times among girls since 1897, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1920s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1897 to 1980.
- 1,214 total births
- 1897–1980 years on record
- 1920s peak decade
- 27% born in that decade
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
1,214 girls have been named Oletha since 1897, peaking in the 1920s, last recorded in 1980.
- 1,214
- total births
- 1897–1980
- years on record
- 1920s
- peak decade
- 27%
- born in that decade
1920s
Peak decade
27% of everyone ever named Oletha was born in this single decade.
1923
Single peak year
41 babies were named Oletha in 1923 - its busiest year on record.
Oletha's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Oletha's SSA record in two at 1941 and the more recent half accounts for 32% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 68%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 1897, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1923 peak of 41, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Oletha at a glance
Last recorded 1980Peak year
1923
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1897
Oletha popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1897–1980
- Peak year (1923)
- 41
- Annual births at peak, across 84 years of records
Oletha by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1920s was Oletha's strongest decade.
329 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 27% of all-time use.
Oletha births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1890s 5
1890s
5 births
- 1900s 39
1900s
39 births
- 1910s
1910s
238 births
- 1920s
1920s
329 births
- 1930s
1930s
205 births
- 1940s 113
1940s
113 births
- 1950s 99
1950s
99 births
- 1960s 103
1960s
103 births
- 1970s 78
1970s
78 births
- 1980s 5
1980s
5 births
What this shows Peak: 1920s at 329 births (27% of all-time use).
How Oletha 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 Oletha's total volume
Oletha vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Oletha by state
Where Oletha concentrates geographically, total births since 1897
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Texas | | 128 | 10.5% |
| #2 | Oklahoma | | 104 | 8.6% |
| #3 | Kansas | | 13 | 1.1% |
| #4 | Arkansas | | 6 | 0.5% |
| #5 | Missouri | | 5 | 0.4% |
Texas share of Oletha's total US births 10.5%
Even split
128 of 1,214 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 5 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Oletha? ▼
Oletha has been given to 1,214 babies in the U.S. since 1897, according to SSA data. Its last appearance in the data was 1980. 41 babies were born in 1923, its single highest year.
When was Oletha most popular? ▼
Oletha was most popular in the 1920s decade with 329 total births. The single peak year was 1923.
Where is Oletha most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Oletha are Texas (128 births), Oklahoma (104 births), Kansas (13 births).
How long has the name Oletha been used? ▼
Oletha has been recorded in Social Security data since 1897, spanning 84 years of data through 1980.
What names are similar to Oletha? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Oleta, Olevia, Olene, Olena, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Oletha's data
- Oletha's decade-level peak was the 1920s (329 total births); usage has since declined to 5 in the 1980s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Texas records the most Olethas (128 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Texas 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 Oletha
Nearby Names Like Oletha
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Oletha
Oleta Girl
5,472 births
Olevia Girl
1,945 births
Olene Girl
1,347 births
Olena Girl
#4117 920 births
Olean Girl
853 births
Compare Oletha side by side: Oletha vs Oleta Oletha vs Olevia Oletha vs Olene
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, 1897–1980 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Oletha: Baby Name Since 1897 - 1,214 Births, Peak 1923." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/oletha. 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 Oletha 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.