Loretta

At a Glance: Name: Loretta – Meaning: laurel (via Laura) – Origin: Italian/Latin (diminutive of Laura) – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: lor-ET-ah

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Loretta is an Italian and Latin name, a diminutive of Laura, and it carries the meaning "laurel." It's pronounced lor-ET-ah. If you like names with a soft, old-fashioned feel that still trace back to a clear root name, Loretta fits that mold.

Meaning & Origin of Loretta

Meaning: Laurel (via laura).

Origin: Italian/Latin (diminutive of Laura).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Loretta

Phonetic: lor-ET-ah   IPA: /ləˈrɛtə/

Popularity of Loretta

Loretta peaked in 1938, when it ranked #62 and 3,913 baby girls were given the name. By 2024 it had settled to #677, with 422 girls named Loretta that year.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1880–2024.

Make Loretta Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Loretta, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

Names With a Similar Story

Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.

• Laurel
• Lilian
• Nova
• Olive
• Opal
• Rose

FAQ

What does the name Loretta mean?

Laurel (via laura). (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Loretta)

How do you pronounce Loretta?

Loretta is pronounced lor-ET-ah (IPA: /ləˈrɛtə/).

Is Loretta a popular name right now?

Loretta peaked at #62 in 1938 and is ranked #677 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

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