Retta
Retta is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Often a diminutive of Loretta (bay laurel) or Henrietta (home ruler), or derived from Margaret (pearl).
Origin and history
Retta is traditionally used as a shortened form of names like Loretta, Henrietta, or Margaretta. It functions both as an independent given name and a diminutival variant in U.S. history. While popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it remains a rare choice in modern times.
Popularity in the United States
3,399 babies in the United States have been named Retta since 1880. It ranks #3042 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2069.
States where it is most popular
- TX (23.5 %)
- OK (14.2 %)
- TN (12.7 %)
- WV (9.2 %)
- PA (7.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 249 |
| 1890-1900 | 294 |
| 1900-1910 | 276 |
| 1910-1920 | 334 |
| 1920-1930 | 443 |
| 1930-1940 | 437 |
| 1940-1950 | 435 |
| 1950-1960 | 482 |
| 1960-1970 | 225 |
| 1970-1980 | 101 |
| 1980-1990 | 42 |
| 1990-2000 | 16 |
| 2000-2010 | 5 |
| 2010-2019 | 28 |
| 2020-2029 | 32 |
Famous people named Retta
- Retta: Actress, Comedian
- Retta Scott: Animator, Illustrator
- Retta Young: Singer
Nicknames
Etta, Ret
Fun facts
- Retta was most common in the United States around the turn of the 20th century before falling into rare usage.
- It originated primarily as a short form for longer names ending in '-retta', such as Loretta or Henrietta.