Girl name · Latin
Loretta
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: laurelLoretta is a girl's name that comes from Latin and means "laurel". It is used in English.
- Meaning
- Laurel
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #606 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Loretta
As a girl's name, Loretta comes from Latin and means "laurel". It is used in English.
Its meaning puts Loretta on our nature names list.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
Loretta on Nomezo lists
What our editors wrote about Loretta on 3 lists.
“Possibly from Lauretta, little laurel; coal miner's daughter Loretta Lynn”
From Country girl names, names of country music legends
“Possibly from Lauretta, little laurel; honky-tonk sweet”
From Cowboy names, cowgirl names
“A country-music queen”
From Porch goose names, southern and country porch goose names
How popular is Loretta?
- US rank in 2025
- #606
- 485 babies, 302 per million girls
- Best rank
- #62 in 1938
- 3,913 babies that year
- Babies since 1880
- At least 177,564
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 789 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 1,522 per million |
| 1900s | 1,759 per million |
| 1910s | 1,786 per million |
| 1920s | 1,763 per million |
| 1930s | 2,958 per million |
| 1940s | 2,079 per million |
| 1950s | 1,580 per million |
| 1960s | 1,208 per million |
| 1970s | 559 per million |
| 1980s | 191 per million |
| 1990s | 77 per million |
| 2000s | 50 per million |
| 2010s | 103 per million |
| 2020s | 226 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,085 | #1,103 | #1,087 | #1,023 | #943 | #902 | #810 | #757 | #677 | #606 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Other forms of Loretta
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- LabhraLaurel (Latin, girl)
- LoretoLaurel grove (Latin, girl)
Names spelled like Loretta
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- LottaFree man, feminine of Charles (Germanic, girl)
- LorenaFrom Lorraine (French, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- DaphneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- Ana LauraGrace, laurel tree (Hebrew and Latin, girl)
- DafnaLaurel (Greek, girl)
- DafniLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- DefneLaurel tree (Greek, girl)
- LaureLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- LauriePet form of Laura or Laurence, linked to laurel (Latin, unisex)
- LowriLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
Middle names for Loretta
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a shorter length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Latin
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
Loretta: common questions
What does the name Loretta mean?
Loretta comes from Latin and means "laurel".
Is Loretta a boy or girl name?
Loretta is mainly a girl's name.
Where does the name Loretta come from?
Loretta comes from Latin and means "laurel". Today it is used in English.
How popular is the name Loretta?
Loretta ranked #606 in the US in 2025, with 485 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Loretta?
Forms of Loretta with the same meaning and origin include Labhra (Scottish) and Loreto (Spanish).
What middle names go with Loretta?
Middle names that flow well with Loretta include Anne, Belle, Bess, Eve and Gwen. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.