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Arletha

♀ Girl

Pronounced ar-LEE-thuh /ɑːrˈliː.θə/Medium

Meaning: Arletha is an American elaboration blending the sounds of Arletta and Aretha, both soft -etha names of the early twentieth century. Its root is not fixed; it reads as a lyrical coinage in the same family as Aletha and Aretha rather than a name with a single clear meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Arletha blends Arletta and Aretha into a soft, lyrical name of the mid-century South (said 'ar-LEE-thuh').

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Origin LowEnglish

MeaningArletha is an American elaboration blending the sounds of Arletta and Aretha, both soft -etha names of the early twentieth century. Its root is not fixed; it reads as a lyrical coinage in the same family as Aletha and Aretha rather than a name with a single clear meaning.

U.S. rank (1993)#10698 ↗ Rising

1993 U.S. births7 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1963

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,640

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Arletha is an American elaboration that fuses Arletta with Aretha, part of a Southern taste for flowing -etha endings. Its precise root is uncertain, but it belongs firmly to that melodic family of names.

In the SSA records it appears across the century, with a modest peak around 1963, always staying rare. It reads as a warm, old-fashioned Southern name rather than a modern revival.

Did you know? Arletha sits in a whole chorus of -etha names — Aretha, Aletha, Oretha, Bertha — that flowered in the American South and gave gospel and soul music some of its most memorable first names.

Overall data confidence 45%

References — Arletha — blend of Arletta/Aretha, uncertain

Variations

ArlettaAlethaAretha

Nicknames

ArlieLetha

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Arletha…

Aretha— a closely matching -etha name of the same era

Arletta— one of the two names Arletha blends

Aletha— a fellow soft Southern -etha name

Bertha— another vintage -tha name of the period

Explore names like Arletha

By themevintage coined southern

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Arletha mean?

Arletha is an American blend of Arletta and Aretha, with an uncertain older root.

How do you pronounce Arletha?

It's said ar-LEE-thuh /ɑːrˈliː.θə/ — three syllables, stress on the second.

Is Arletha a boy or girl name?

Arletha is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Arletha?

Arletha is a rare, old-fashioned name, most seen in the mid-twentieth-century South.