How Many People Are Named Loretta?

Complete statistics for the name Loretta: rarity score, gender breakdown, age distribution, historical popularity, worldwide data, meaning and origin.

Loretta
Very Rare
Italian

Loretta means 'light' and has origins in Italian, making it a rare gem among female names. That's just 1 in 3,737 Americans who carry this beautiful name, with around 88,304 people living in the US today. Interestingly, most people named Loretta are over 60, giving the name a decidedly older-generation feel.

~308
Living in US
1 in 1,076,134
Americans
1938
Peak Year

📖 Meaning & Origin

💬
Meaning
Light
🌐
Origin
Italian
🔢
Numerology
Life Path 1
Personality Traits
Warm Nostalgic Charming
1
Life Path Number

Traditionally, the life-path number 1 represents leadership and independence.

🌍 Worldwide Usage

88,304
Worldwide Bearers
#4,063
Global Rank
🇮🇪 Ireland
994
🇩🇪 Germany
804
🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
644
🇮🇳 India
538
🇲🇾 Malaysia
468
🇳🇿 New Zealand
465
🇵🇬 Papua New Guinea
358
🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland
319
🇵🇱 Poland
283
🇳🇱 Netherlands
264

⚥ Gender Distribution

♂ Male
196 (0%)
♀ Female
88,108 (100%)

📊 Births by Age Group

Avg Cohort Age: 82
4,755
Would be under 30 (3%)
19,902
Would be 30–60 (11%)
152,876
Would be over 60 (86%)

All 177,533 recorded US births for this name, grouped by the age those individuals would be today. Not adjusted for survival, so the number living today is lower (see the living estimate above).

📈 Popularity Over Time

Peak: 1938

Annual US births from SSA records  ·  Trend: Rising

🏆 Name Scorecard

Popularity
100
Classic Feel
88
Modern Appeal
12
International
5

Scores 0–100 based on statistical analysis of US and worldwide name frequency

📜 Loretta Through the Generations

Loretta peaked in popularity back in 1938 when 3,931 babies were given this name, reflecting a time when classic monikers were cherished. Today, the name's resurgence shows it's still beloved, though its current user base skews older, with 86% of those named Loretta being over 60. This age distribution paints a picture of a name that's both timeless and nostalgic, resonating especially with those born in earlier decades.

📍 State Distribution (Top 10)

New York 16,188
Pennsylvania 13,442
Illinois 12,047
California 9,431
Ohio 9,014
Texas 6,977
Michigan 6,600
Missouri 5,349
New Jersey 4,928
Kentucky 4,900

✨ Similar Names to Loretta

🌿 Related Names by Origin

Other names sharing Loretta's Italian roots

📄 About the Name Loretta

How Many People Have the Name Loretta?

Based on Social Security Administration birth records and age-adjusted survival modeling, approximately 308 people in the United States currently share the name Loretta. That works out to roughly 1 in every 1,076,134 Americans, placing it in the Very Rare category.

Is Loretta a Common or Rare Name?

Loretta is classified as Very Rare. The rarity scale runs from Very Common (shared by millions) through Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Very Rare. Understanding where a name sits helps parents gauge uniqueness, genealogists narrow down records, and individuals settle debates about their own name's distinctiveness.

What Does the Name Loretta Mean?

Loretta means "light" and comes from Italian origins. The name carries a life-path numerology number of 1.

Gender Breakdown

Of all recorded bearers of Loretta in SSA data, approximately 0% are male and 100% are female.

When Was Loretta Most Popular?

The name Loretta reached peak popularity in 1938, with 3,931 babies registered that year. Current trend: Rising.

How Is This Data Calculated?

All figures are statistical estimates, not exact government headcounts. The underlying data comes from the SSA National Baby Names dataset. Full methodology is explained on the methodology page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How many people are named Loretta?

Approximately 308 people named Loretta live in the United States today. All-time US births on record total 308. That works out to roughly 1 in 1,076,134 Americans.

Is Loretta a rare name?

Loretta is classified as Very Rare in the United States. Approximately 1 in every 1,076,134 Americans has this name.

What does the name Loretta mean?

Loretta means "light" and comes from Italian origins.

Is Loretta more male or female?

Based on SSA records, 0% of people named Loretta are male and 100% are female.

When was Loretta most popular?

Loretta peaked in 1938 with 3,931 births that year. Current trend: Rising.

How accurate are these statistics?

All figures are statistical estimates based on SSA birth records and age-adjusted modeling. See the methodology page for full details.

Disclaimer: All results are statistical estimates based on aggregated SSA birth records and modeling. Not exact counts of individuals. Data source: SSA National Baby Names dataset.
Quick Stats
Living in US308
All-Time Births308
1 in X1 in 1,076,134
RarityVery Rare
GenderFemale
Avg Age82
Peak Year1938
World Rank#4,063
Male %0%
Female %100%

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Data Source

Powered by the SSA National Baby Names dataset, birth registrations from 1880 to present.

All counts are statistical estimates. See the methodology page.