A 1890s favorite, climbing again.
Popularity of Rhetta since 1895
Babies named Rhetta per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1941, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Rhetta's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 10 |
| 1900s | 10 |
| 1910s | 42 |
| 1920s | 40 |
| 1930s | 68 |
| 1940s | 135 |
| 1950s | 124 |
| 1960s | 83 |
| 1970s | 37 |
| 1980s | 6 |
| 1990s | 10 |
| 2000s | 6 |
| 2010s | 18 |
| 2020s | 32 |
Meaning & origin
Rhetta is a rare feminine variant of Rhett, appearing first in U.S. records in 1895, the same year it reached its peak rank of 10,917th, with roughly 1 in every 200,908 girls given the name that year. After a long period of low usage, the name has been on a rising trajectory since 2020, reflecting renewed interest in vintage and literary-inspired names. Although it has not yet appeared among any state's top names, its upward trend may signal a quiet revival. The name's connection to the iconic character Rhett Butler gives it a subtle literary allure, while the -a ending makes it distinctly feminine.
Rhetta is a feminine form of Rhett, which originated as a surname of Welsh origin, from the Welsh word 'rhudd' meaning 'red.' The name Rhett was popularized as a given name by Margaret Mitchell's character Rhett Butler in her 1936 novel 'Gone with the Wind.' Rhetta extends the name with the common feminine suffix -a, creating a distinct female variant.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Retta, Rhett
Variants: Retta
Sibling names for Rhetta
Names that share Rhetta's style, for a brother or sister.
