Loretta
A girls’ name of Latin origin, meaning laurel; diminutive form of Laura.
How Loretta has moved
View as table
| Year | US rank |
|---|---|
| 2020 | #942 |
| 2021 | #902 |
| 2022 | #816 |
| 2023 | #764 |
| 2024 | #677 |
| 2025 | #606 |
Loretta by the numbers
In 2025, 39 babies in England and Wales were named Loretta. In the US, 225 were, though that figure is from 2017, the most recent full year we hold.
It is used at about the same rate on both sides of the Atlantic.
Its American peak was 3,911 babies in 1938, so it is a 1930s name that has since fallen a long way.
At its height, in 1935, about 1 in 320 American girls born that year was called Loretta.
Other names that come from Laura
Like Loretta, each of these traces back to Laura: a form of it, a name built from it, or a son or daughter of it. Not always the same sex.
- Lauralaurel tree; symbol of victory939 in the US (2017)
- Loralaurel; a form of Laura49 in the US (2017)
- Lowrilaurel; a form of Lowry or Laura39 in England and Wales (2025)
- Launafrom laurel; a form of Laura or Laurel16 in the US (2017)
- Lorellelaurel; a form of Laura12 in the US (2017)
- Lorielaurel; a form of Laura12 in the US (2017)
- Lauralyelaurel tree; victory and honor; a form of Laura5 in the US (2017)
- Lauralynlaurel tree; victory and honor; a form of Laura5 in the US (2017)
Spelled almost the same
Other names in the records within a letter or two of Loretta. Close spellings are not always related names, but they are usually worth seeing together.
- Lorenafrom Lorraine; crowned with laurel; a form of Lorain or Lauren54 in England and Wales (2025)
- Lorenzafrom Laurentum; laurel crowned; a form of Lawrence or Laura19 in the US (2017)
- Laurettalaurel wreath; diminutive of laura7 in the US (2017)
- Lorennafrom Laurentum; a form of Laurenna6 in England and Wales (2025)
- Loretofrom the sanctuary of Loreto; religious place name6 in the US (2017)
- Lottapower; a form of Carlotta or Charlotte5 in England and Wales (2025)
Other names that mean a tree
Like Loretta, each of these has a tree in its meaning. Different names, different histories, the same idea.
- Oliviaolive tree; symbol of peace18,642 in the US (2017)
- Hazelthe hazel tree; hazel-eyed5,019 in the US (2017)
- Rowanlittle red one; the rowan tree1,398 in England and Wales (2025)
- Willowthe willow tree; grace, flexibility1,384 in England and Wales (2025)
- Ashleyash tree meadow2,549 in the US (2017)
- Arlofortified hill; barberry tree2,083 in England and Wales (2025)
Names about as common as Loretta
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