Eartha
Primarily a girl's name of Old English origin with 2,920 recorded births. Also given to 32 boys.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name originating as a coinage.
Eartha is a girl's and boy's baby name of Old English origin, derived from the Old English eorþe, meaning 'earth, land, soil' — a grounding, elemental name rooted in the natural world. It was used as a given name in African American communities in the 20th century.
Eartha Kitt — the legendary singer, actress, and activist known for her purring voice and fierce independence — made this name unforgettable. Her extraordinary life and talent have given Eartha a permanent association with raw, earthy charisma and artistic brilliance.
EtymologyShow more
Names travel. They cross oceans, change spelling, shift pronunciation, and accumulate new associations with each culture that adopts them. Eartha is rooted in the Old English tradition, but its presence in American naming since 1905 means it has been shaped by English phonetics, local customs, and the cultural context of the families who chose it.
Eartha’s 2,920 recorded births suggest it has found a niche — possibly within a specific cultural community, region, or naming subculture within the broader American landscape.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Eartha has 82+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1905.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 5 | #15761 | ▼ |
| 1990s | 12 | #12384 | ▼ |
| 1980s | 44 | #8953 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 127 | #5290 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 365 | #2075 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 744 | #1197 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 527 | #1152 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 519 | #991 | ▲ |
| 1920s | 410 | #1229 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 145 | #1930 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 22 | #2047 | — |
The Story of Eartha
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1955, Eartha is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Eartha are most likely born between 1945 and 1965.
How rare is Eartha?
With 2,920 total births on record, Eartha remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1905, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 744 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Eartha by the numbers
- Would fill 61 school buses
- Meeting one Eartha per day would take 8 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(82 years, 1905–2020)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | #15761 |
| 1995 | 7 | #10845 |
| 1992 | 5 | #13922 |
| 1988 | 6 | #10737 |
| 1986 | 6 | #9879 |
| 1983 | 6 | #9348 |
| 1982 | 13 | #5292 |
| 1981 | 5 | #10860 |
| 1980 | 8 | #7604 |
| 1979 | 7 | #8278 |
| 1978 | 11 | #5659 |
| 1977 | 14 | #4720 |
| 1976 | 9 | #6194 |
| 1975 | 11 | #5243 |
| 1974 | 6 | #7961 |
| 1973 | 16 | #3830 |
| 1972 | 14 | #4143 |
| 1971 | 15 | #3996 |
| 1970 | 24 | #2875 |
| 1969 | 18 | #3231 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Eartha as a Boy's Name
While overwhelmingly a girl's name, Eartha has also been given to 32 boys in the U.S. since 1925.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Eartha a boy's or girl's name?
When was Eartha most popular?
How popular is the name Eartha?
Can Eartha be used for both boys and girls?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1905–2020