US Popularity:22502
Origin:Greek
Meaning:Virtue; Goodness; Excellence; Manliness; Prowess; Rank; Valor
Aretha is a girl’s name of Greek origin that means “virtue,” “goodness,” “excellence,” “manliness,” “prowess,” “rank” or “valor.” Easy to spell and pronounce, Aretha sings off the tongue and carries an aura of eminence. Aretha may come from the Greek word arete, the concept of excellence of any kind. In Homer’s Odyssey, Arete is the name given to the wife of King Alcinous, who is looked upon as a goddess by her people. Singer Aretha Franklin has certainly lived up to her name, with a successful career that spans generations and her title as the Queen of Soul. Needless to say, the name Aretha powerfully inspires excellence in its bearer!

Famous People Named Aretha

Wondering who else shares this name? Check out these well known people who made this baby name famous.
  • Aretha Franklin
    Singer

How Popular Is The Name Aretha?

U.S. Births

Overall:Aretha is currently #22502 in U.S. births
Girl:Aretha is currently #13572 in U.S. births

Yearly Ranking Change:

Year:
2023
#13572
in 2023
+ 176
from 2022
In comparison to the previous year's data
Sources
  • Behind the Name, Aretha, June 2023

  • Name Doctor, Aretha

  • 100,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky, pg. 84

Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial process.

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