Loretta

Meaning: Laurel
Origin: Latin — Variant of Lauretta, an Italian diminutive of Laura

Girl's name · #606 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Loretta holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#606 in 2025). About 178,000 girls have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

In recent years, Loretta ran about 4× its national rate in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 31 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Loretta ranks in other countries and regions.

#323 in Mexico (2024) · #632 in Scotland (2025) · #894 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,106 in Canada (2025) · #1,636 in Austria (2025) · #2,203 in Sweden (2025) · #15,753 in Italy (2024) · #9,466 in Ecuador (2023) · #5,893 in France (2018) · #365 in New Zealand (2017) · #613 in Poland (2017) · #1,131 in Slovakia (2013) and 2 more.

Famous Lorettas

Loretta Young — American actress (1913–2000)
Loretta Lynn — American country singer (1932–2022)
Loretta Lynch — American attorney (born 1959)
Loretta Swit — American actress (1937–2025)
Loretta Devine — American actress (born 1949)

In stories & tradition

Loretta Brown — Family Guy (TV series)
Loretta Jones — Hollyoaks (TV series)
Loretta Kugret — I'm in Love with the Villainess (novel series)

What Lorettas become

Among 175 notable people named Loretta:

Entertainers appear 1.84× more often than among typical names — e.g. Loretta Young, American actress (1913–2000).

Similar names: Eileen · Lorena · Greta · Faye · Lorraine · Sylvia

Browse more girl names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Service