Holding steady.
Popularity of Maretta since 1898
Babies named Maretta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1950, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Maretta's real moment was 1898.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 6 |
| 1900s | 0 |
| 1910s | 42 |
| 1920s | 88 |
| 1930s | 115 |
| 1940s | 141 |
| 1950s | 174 |
| 1960s | 135 |
| 1970s | 118 |
| 1980s | 43 |
| 1990s | 12 |
| 2000s | 11 |
| 2010s | 11 |
| 2020s | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Maretta is a rare and delicate name first recorded in the United States in 1898, according to Social Security data. It reached its peak usage that very year, after which it never again appeared in the top 1000 names. The name has remained in very occasional use, with a trajectory of stability, meaning it appears sporadically without significant rise or fall. Its style, reminiscent of other '-etta' endings like Coretta and Loretta, gives it a vintage, musical quality. Though it has not been associated with any top state or famous bearer, its rarity offers an appealing distinctiveness for families seeking a name with subtle historical roots and a gently romantic sound.
Maretta likely arose as a Latinate feminine diminutive, possibly from Maria or as a variant of Margaret. It resembles the Italian name Maretta, itself a diminutive of Maria. In English usage, it may also be a respelling of the more common Loretta or a variant of the French Marguerite. The name has been recorded in the United States since the late 19th century, though it has always been rare.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Etta, Rett, Mary
Sibling names for Maretta
Names that share Maretta's style, for a brother or sister.
