Loretta

Loretta is a girl's name of Italian origin. Its meaning is not recorded in the standard references we check — we would rather tell you that plainly than guess. In 2024 it was given to 422 girls in the United States.

Loretta at a glance

Gender
Girl name
Origin
Italian
Meaning
Not recorded in standard references
Pronunciation
/ˌləˈɹɛtə/
Also spelled
Lora

About the name Loretta

Loretta belongs to the Italian tradition. Its roots are documented, even though its precise meaning is not recorded in the standard references — an honest gap we prefer to a confident guess. It travels in a few spellings: Lora.

In the United States, Loretta first appears in Social Security records in 1880. It climbed to its best-ever rank of #62 in 1938, and in 2024 422 babies received the name — 177,072 in total since 1880. Those are the official counts, not estimates.

Loretta in US records

First recorded (US)
1880
Best US rank
#62 in 1938
Peak year
1938
Babies named Loretta in 2024
422
Total since 1880
177,072

Spellings & short forms

Lora

Similar names

More names from the Italian shelf:

Frequently asked questions

What does the name Loretta mean?

The meaning of Loretta is not recorded in the standard references we check. Rather than repeat an unsourced claim, we leave it open — its Italian origin is documented, but its exact meaning is not.

Is Loretta a boy or girl name?

Loretta is a girl name. In 2024, 422 babies received the name in the US.

What origin is the name Loretta?

Loretta comes from the Italian tradition. It is also spelled Lora.

How popular is the name Loretta?

Loretta first appears in US records in 1880. Its best-ever ranking was #62 in 1938, and 422 babies were given the name in 2024.

How do you pronounce Loretta?

Loretta is pronounced /ˌləˈɹɛtə/ (IPA).

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Meaning and origin for this page were checked against this source. US popularity figures are from the Social Security Administration's public baby-names data. If you spot an error, write to [email protected] — accuracy is the whole point of this site, and corrections are made fast.