Arretta
A girl's name of American origin with 240 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Arretta is a three-syllable girl's name with a open, warm sound — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. With only 240 recorded U.S. births, it is exceptionally rare — the kind of name most people encounter for the first time when they meet your child.
Arretta is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Arretta is a girl's baby name of American origin, an elaborated form of Etta or Aretta — Etta itself being a diminutive of names like Henrietta (Germanic: 'ruler of the home'). The Ar- prefix and -etta ending create a flowing, old-fashioned charm.
Arretta has the Victorian parlor warmth of a name from another era — delicate, musical, and quietly confident. It's the kind of name that sounds like it belongs in a family album, full of history and character.
EtymologyShow more
Arretta is cataloged under the American naming tradition. Names from the American tradition carry linguistic and cultural patterns that shape their sound, structure, and associations.
In the U.S., Arretta has been recorded as a girl's name since 1912, with 240 total births. Browse the American names hub on this site to explore the broader family.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Arretta has 31+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1912.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 18 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 35 | ▼ |
| 1930s | 56 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 71 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 54 | — |
The Story of Arretta
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1915, Arretta is a name steeped in history. Girls named Arretta are most likely born between 1912 and 1925.
How rare is Arretta?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Arretta is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1912, peaked in the 1920s with 71 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Arretta by the numbers
- Would fill 5 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(31 years, 1912–1966)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 6 | #5844 |
| 1955 | 7 | #4768 |
| 1953 | 5 | #5715 |
| 1951 | 6 | #4871 |
| 1949 | 6 | #4705 |
| 1947 | 6 | #4785 |
| 1943 | 7 | #3823 |
| 1942 | 8 | #3461 |
| 1941 | 8 | #3266 |
| 1939 | 5 | #4297 |
| 1938 | 7 | #3469 |
| 1937 | 7 | #3460 |
| 1936 | 7 | #3401 |
| 1933 | 7 | #3427 |
| 1932 | 5 | #4463 |
| 1931 | 8 | #3242 |
| 1930 | 10 | #2860 |
| 1929 | 6 | #4093 |
| 1928 | 9 | #3185 |
| 1927 | 11 | #2873 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–1966