A 1900s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Coletta since 1889
Babies named Coletta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1924, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Coletta's real moment was 1902.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5 |
| 1890s | 61 |
| 1900s | 140 |
| 1910s | 349 |
| 1920s | 480 |
| 1930s | 353 |
| 1940s | 240 |
| 1950s | 268 |
| 1960s | 166 |
| 1970s | 120 |
| 1980s | 75 |
| 1990s | 18 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 48 |
| 2020s | 50 |
Meaning & origin
Coletta is a historical name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1889, early in the name's documented history. It reached its peak popularity in 1902, reflecting the fashion for French-derived names among American families at the turn of the 20th century. After a long period of decline, the name has been rising again since 2009, indicating a quiet revival of this vintage choice. In 2025, it is given to approximately 1 in every 267,878 female newborns, making it a distinctive but not unheard of selection. Coletta's trajectory shows a steady upward trend in recent years, likely driven by parents seeking elegant, less common names with historical resonance.
Coletta is a feminine diminutive of Nicolas, derived from the Old French form of the Greek name Nikolaos, meaning 'victory of the people.' The name was popularized in the medieval period and has been used in various European cultures. It is also associated with Saint Colette, a 15th-century French nun who reformed the Poor Clares.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Cole, Coco, Etta, Letta
Sibling names for Coletta
Names that share Coletta's style, for a brother or sister.
