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Home › Baby Names Directory › Loreto

Loreto

♂ Boy

How to Pronounce Loreto

Pronounced lor-EH-toh /lɔːˈrɛt.oʊ/Low

Meaning: Loreto is an Italian devotional name honoring Our Lady of Loreto, whose shrine, the Holy House of Loreto, is a major Marian sanctuary in central Italy. The place name is thought to come from the Latin lauretum, 'a grove of laurels.' Given in Marian devotion, Loreto is borne by both men and women; here it appears as a boy's name.Low

In 30 seconds: Loreto is a rare Italian devotional name from Our Lady of Loreto, the place name from Latin lauretum, 'laurel grove.' It had an early high around 1923 (said lor-EH-toh).
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Origin LowItalian, Latin
MeaningLoreto is an Italian devotional name honoring Our Lady of Loreto, whose shrine, the Holy House of Loreto, is a major Marian sanctuary in central Italy. The place name is thought to come from the Latin lauretum, 'a grove of laurels.' Given in Marian devotion, Loreto is borne by both men and women; here it appears as a boy's name.
U.S. rank (2023)#8651 ↘ Falling
2023 U.S. births9 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1923
Total births (all-time)≈ 494

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 192919152023

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

Loreto is a reverent Italian name tied to Our Lady of Loreto and her famous shrine, with the place name likely rooted in the Latin lauretum, 'laurel grove.' It belongs to the family of Marian devotional names and stayed uncommon in the United States, borne chiefly by Italian and Hispanic families.

Loreto appeared in modest numbers across the twentieth century, peaking around 1923 with still only about fifteen boys a year. A man named Loreto at that peak would belong to a grandparents' generation today, and the name holds its devotional, old-world character.

Did you know? The shrine of Loreto, which gives the name its meaning, is one of Italy's most visited Marian sanctuaries, honoring the Holy House said to be that of the Virgin Mary.
Overall data confidence 40%
References - Loreto — Italian devotional name < Our Lady of Loreto; place name from Latin lauretum 'laurel grove'; modest multi-decade use.

Variations

LorettoLoretaLoredo

Nicknames

RetoLoro

Famous Bearers

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If you like Loreto…

Rosario— a comparable Marian devotional name
Salvatore— a like Italian religious boy's name
Carmelo— another Marian-linked Italian name
Natale— a similar Italian feast-day name

Explore names like Loreto

By themelatinitaliandevotionalmarian

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Loreto mean?

It is an Italian devotional name honoring Our Lady of Loreto, from a place name thought to derive from the Latin lauretum, 'laurel grove.'

How do you pronounce Loreto?

It is said lor-EH-toh /lɔːˈrɛt.oʊ/ - three syllables, stress on the middle.

Is Loreto a boy or girl name?

Loreto is used here as a boy's name, though the devotional name is given to both.

How popular is Loreto?

It was always rare in the United States, given to only about fifteen boys a year even at its peak in the early nineteen-twenties.

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