UK girl's name
Aretha
A feminine name derived from Greek meaning "exceedingly virtuous or eminent lady".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Aretha is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Aretha popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2002, with 4 births.
This profile covers 27 England and Wales registrations across 8 recorded years from 2002 to 2022. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 27 living people in the UK are called Aretha. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Aretha ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2002, when 4 girls were registered as Aretha.
- • About 27 living people in the UK are estimated to have Aretha as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2002
4 births
Estimated living
27
2026
Meaning
What does Aretha mean?
The name Aretha has its origins in the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the Greek word "arête" which means "virtue" or "excellence". The name was fairly common in ancient Greece and was often given to female children as a symbolic wish for them to lead virtuous and exemplary lives.
In ancient Greek mythology, Aretha was one of the Oceanid nymphs, the 3,000 daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. Her name appears in various texts and records from the time, including the works of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod.
The earliest recorded use of the name Aretha dates back to the 5th century BC. One of the earliest known historical figures with this name was Aretha of Cyrene, a Greek philosopher and mathematician who lived around 350 BC. She is credited with developing several geometric principles and is considered one of the first notable female mathematicians in recorded history.
During the Roman era, the name Aretha continued to be used, though its popularity waned somewhat. One notable bearer of the name was Aretha, the wife of the Roman Emperor Diocletian who ruled from 284 to 305 AD.
In the Middle Ages, the name saw a revival in popularity, particularly in parts of Europe influenced by the Byzantine Empire. One of the most famous historical figures with the name Aretha during this time was Aretha of Lezha, an Albanian noblewoman and military leader who lived in the 13th century. She played a crucial role in defending her region against the invasion of the Angevin forces.
As the centuries passed, the name Aretha remained in use, though it was not as widespread as some other names. In the 17th century, there was a notable figure named Aretha Gorges, a French poet and playwright who was active in the literary circles of Paris.
In more recent history, the name Aretha has become closely associated with the legendary American singer Aretha Franklin, who was born in 1942 and passed away in 2018. Known as the "Queen of Soul", she was a highly influential figure in the world of music and is considered one of the greatest vocalists of all time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Aretha over time
The chart below shows babies named Aretha registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2002 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Aretha, the clearest high point is 2002. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Aretha by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Aretha was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4645 | 4 | 1 |
| 2010s | #5533 | 16 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4104 | 7 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Aretha
- Amelia 94,830
- Ava 54,556
- Amy 52,495
- Alice 46,815
- Abigail 45,658
- Amber 31,922
- Anna 27,802
- Alexandra 19,455
- Amelie 18,051
- Abbie 15,971
- Aimee 15,158
- Annabelle 15,120
FAQ
Aretha: questions and answers
How popular is the name Aretha in the UK right now?
In 2022, Aretha was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Aretha most popular?
The peak year on record was 2002, with 4 babies registered as Aretha in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Aretha?
A feminine name derived from Greek meaning "exceedingly virtuous or eminent lady".
How many people are called Aretha in the UK?
A total of 27 babies have been registered as Aretha across the 8 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.