Holding steady.
Popularity of Arletha since 1900
Babies named Arletha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1963, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Arletha's real moment was 1903.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1900s | 24 |
| 1910s | 125 |
| 1920s | 240 |
| 1930s | 213 |
| 1940s | 199 |
| 1950s | 288 |
| 1960s | 318 |
| 1970s | 160 |
| 1980s | 61 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Arletha is a rare and somewhat obscure feminine name that first appeared in U.S. Social Security records in 1900. It peaked in usage in 1903, after which its popularity declined sharply, and it has not been recorded in recent data. The name's trajectory has been stable and low since its early 20th-century heyday. While the exact origin is uncertain, Arletha likely follows a pattern of feminine name formation common in the late 1800s, possibly derived from surnames or other names like Arliss or Arletta. Today, it remains a distinctive choice with a vintage feel.
Arletha is a relatively rare name that emerged in the United States in the early 20th century, possibly as a feminine elaboration of the surname Arliss or as a variant of Arletta, which itself may be a diminutive of names like Arlene or Marlene. Its exact derivation is uncertain, but it follows a pattern of creating feminine names with the suffix -etha or -etta, popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The name saw modest use in the 1900s according to Social Security records, peaking in 1903.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Arlie, Letha, Ari
Sibling names for Arletha
Names that share Arletha's style, for a brother or sister.
