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Retta
Pronounced RET-uh /ˈrɛt.ə/High
Meaning: A short form pulled from names ending in -etta — Loretta, Henrietta, Rosetta, Marietta — where -etta is a diminutive ending meaning 'little.' Long used as a nickname, it now stands alone as a vintage-sweet given name.Low
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
Retta began as a familiar short form of the -etta names — Loretta, Henrietta, Rosetta, Marietta — and has been used as a stand-alone given name since the nineteenth century. The ending itself is a diminutive, 'little,' borrowed from Italian and Latin roots. Today it reads as a cosy vintage revival (said 'RET-uh').
It appears only rarely in the U.S. now. Rare, vintage, and cosy.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Retta mean?
Retta is a short form of -etta names like Loretta and Henrietta; the ending -etta means 'little.'
How do you pronounce Retta?
It's said RET-uh /ˈrɛt.ə/ — two syllables, stress on the first.
Is Retta a boy or girl name?
Retta is a girl's name.
How popular is Retta?
Retta is rare in the U.S. today, though it was more familiar in earlier generations.