Holding steady.
Popularity of Eletha since 1898
Babies named Eletha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1923, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Eletha's real moment was 1904.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 6 |
| 1910s | 44 |
| 1920s | 75 |
| 1930s | 37 |
| 1940s | 13 |
| 1950s | 33 |
| 1960s | 30 |
| 1970s | 32 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Eletha is a rare early 20th-century name that appeared sporadically from 1898, first recorded in that year. Its peak year was 1904, when it saw the most use among a small number of births. The name has since remained stable at very low usage, with no recent resurgence. It is not tied to any particular state or region, as records show minimal geographic concentration. Eletha likely derived as a variant of the more familiar Althea or Ethel, which were more common at the time. Its obscurity gives it a distinctive vintage charm.
Eletha likely emerged as a 19th-century variant of Althea, from the Greek althein 'to heal', or as an elaboration of the Old English name Ethel, meaning 'noble'. It experienced modest use in the early 1900s, peaking in 1904 with records continuing into the 1920s.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ellie, Letha, Etta
Sibling names for Eletha
Names that share Eletha's style, for a brother or sister.
