Luretha
A girl's name of Old English origin with 502 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
When Luretha hit its peak of 16 births in 1951, post-war optimism and the baby boom were producing the largest generation of Americans in history, and naming trends reflected that era’s values of stability and tradition.
Today, Luretha reads as a vintage revival candidate — which is exactly what draws some parents to it.
Luretha is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Luretha is a girl's baby name of Old English origin, a Southern American elaboration possibly derived from Luretta or Loretta, itself a diminutive of Laura meaning 'laurel' — the ancient symbol of honor and victory.
Luretha belongs to a family of Loretta/Luretta variants found primarily in the American South during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its distinctive -etha ending gives it an old-fashioned folk elegance, the kind of name found in family Bibles and courthouse records from rural communities.
EtymologyShow more
Luretha is built from 7 letters and three syllables — a mid-length form that balances memorability with distinctiveness. Within the Old English naming tradition, this length is typical of names that preserve their full historical form, carrying their etymology on the surface.
The interplay of consonants and vowels in Luretha creates its characteristic open, warm quality. Multi-syllable names often carry remnants of compound constructions — two or more meaningful elements fused together — even when the original components are no longer transparent to modern speakers.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Luretha has 56+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1912.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Avg Rank | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 10 | #8905 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 53 | #6181 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 113 | #3694 | ▲ |
| 1940s | 91 | #3532 | — |
| 1930s | 92 | #3258 | — |
| 1920s | 97 | #3627 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 46 | #3404 | — |
The Story of Luretha
A Baby Boomer name
Peaking in 1951, Luretha is a timeless Baby Boomer name. Girls named Luretha are most likely born between 1941 and 1961.
How rare is Luretha?
With 502 total births on record, Luretha remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1912, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1950s with 113 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Luretha by the numbers
- Would fill 10 school buses
- Meeting one Luretha per day would take 1.4 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(56 years, 1912–1971)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5 | #9046 |
| 1970 | 5 | #8763 |
| 1969 | 6 | #7111 |
| 1967 | 6 | #6476 |
| 1966 | 5 | #7186 |
| 1964 | 7 | #5796 |
| 1963 | 5 | #7206 |
| 1962 | 6 | #6283 |
| 1961 | 9 | #4745 |
| 1960 | 9 | #4642 |
| 1959 | 13 | #3548 |
| 1958 | 8 | #4746 |
| 1957 | 8 | #4756 |
| 1956 | 12 | #3604 |
| 1955 | 12 | #3493 |
| 1954 | 10 | #3864 |
| 1953 | 12 | #3386 |
| 1952 | 12 | #3314 |
| 1951 | 16 | #2647 |
| 1950 | 10 | #3579 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Luretha a boy's or girl's name?
When was Luretha most popular?
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Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1912–1971