Holding steady.
Popularity of Iretha since 1915
Babies named Iretha per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1957, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Iretha's real moment was 1937.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 23 |
| 1920s | 88 |
| 1930s | 72 |
| 1940s | 64 |
| 1950s | 51 |
| 1960s | 45 |
| 1970s | 16 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 0 |
| 2010s | 0 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Iretha is a rare feminine name that first appeared in U.S. records in 1915, with its peak usage occurring in 1937. Despite never ranking among the top 1,000 names, it saw a small spike during the 1930s. The name likely originated as a variant of Aretha, popularized by the famous singer Aretha Franklin, though Iretha predates her. With no top states associated, it remains an obscure choice, used for fewer than five babies in recent years. Its stable trajectory suggests it will remain uncommon.
Iretha appears to be a rare 20th-century coinage, likely a phonetic variant of Aretha, which itself may derive from a Greek root meaning 'virtue' or be an African American coinage. The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1915 and saw modest use during the 1930s, peaking in 1937. It has remained extremely uncommon ever since.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Irie, Retha
Variants: Aretha
Sibling names for Iretha
Names that share Iretha's style, for a brother or sister.
