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Name Lineage

    The first name Loretta

    A girl’s name from Latin.

    Pronounced /ˌləˈɹɛtə/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Latin origin

    A female given name from Latin, variant of Lauretta, Italian diminutive of Laura; or a form of Loreto.

    Loretta is a short form of

    .

    A form of Lauretta, Italian, Loreto.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 39 girls were named Loretta, making it the 894th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2022, with 40 births (#876).

    02040 1996200020052010201520202025
    471
    babies named Loretta, 1996–2025
    #894
    rank in 2025
    2022
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Loretta with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Loretta at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 485 girls born in the United States were named Loretta, the 606th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 1938, when 3,913 were.

    02,0004,000 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    178,066
    babies named Loretta since 1880
    #606
    rank in 2025
    1938
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Nicknames and spellings

    Other spellings and forms

    • Lorette

    Famous people named Loretta

    13 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Loretta Young
      American actress (1913–2000)
    • Loretta Lynn
      American country singer (1932–2022)
    • Loretta Swit
      American actress (1937–2025)
    • Loretta Lynch
      American attorney (born 1959)
    • Loretta Devine
      American actress, born 1949
    • Loretta Sanchez
      American politician (born 1960)
    • Loretta McNeil
      Athletics competitor (1907–1988)
    • Loretta King Hadler
      American actress (1917-2007)
    • Loretta Long
      American actress, born 1938
    • Loretta Dorman
      Australian field hockey player, born 1963
    • Loretta Schrijver
      Dutch television host (1956–2025)
    • Lorrie Morgan
      American musician, born 1959

    More Latin girls’ names

    All 381 names of Latin origin

    Questions

    What is the origin of the name Loretta?
    Loretta comes from Latin.
    How popular is the name Loretta?
    In 2025, 39 girls born in England and Wales were named Loretta, ranking 894th. Its peak was 2022, with 40 births.
    Is Loretta a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 178,066 US babies named Loretta since 1880 were girls.
    When was Loretta most popular?
    1938 in the United States, when 3,913 babies were named Loretta, its highest rank at 62nd.
    How do you pronounce Loretta?
    Loretta is /ˌləˈɹɛtə/, 3 syllables.
    What name is Loretta a form of?
    Loretta is a form of Lauretta, Italian and Loreto.
    What are other spellings of Loretta?
    Lorette.