Alitha
A feminine name of obscure origin possibly relating to "truth".
Name Census estimates that about 29 living Americans carry the first name Alitha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Alitha today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Alitha births was 1979 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Alitha. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Alitha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
29
~ 1 in 11,819,115 Americans
Peak year
1979
7 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1981 SSA rank
#10,462
Tracked since 1955
Popularity
Alitha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Alitha from the 1950s through to the 1980s, spanning 4 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 18 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Alitha by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Alitha during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Alitha
The name Alitha finds its origins in the ancient Greek language, tracing back to the classical period of ancient Greece. It is derived from the Greek word "aletheia," which means "truth" or "sincerity." The name's earliest recorded use dates back to the 5th century BC, when it was a relatively uncommon name given to Greek women.
One of the earliest known historical figures to bear the name Alitha was a Greek poet who lived in the 3rd century BC. Unfortunately, very little is known about her life or works, as only fragmentary references to her exist in ancient texts. Another notable Alitha was a wealthy Athenian woman who lived in the 2nd century BC and is mentioned in several inscriptions as a patron of the arts and a benefactor of her city.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Alitha gained some popularity among Greek-speaking Christian communities. One of the earliest recorded Christians to bear the name was Alitha of Antioch, a 4th century martyr who was executed during the Diocletianic Persecution for refusing to renounce her faith. Her story is recounted in the ancient Christian text, "The Acts of the Martyrs."
During the Byzantine Empire, the name Alitha remained in use, although it was relatively rare. One notable bearer of the name was Alitha Palaiologina, a 14th century Byzantine noblewoman who was a member of the influential Palaiologos dynasty. She is mentioned in several historical chronicles of the time, but little else is known about her life.
In more recent centuries, the name Alitha has been used sporadically across various cultures, although it has never achieved widespread popularity. One notable bearer of the name was Alitha Diepeveen, a Dutch writer and philosopher who lived in the 18th century and wrote extensively on topics such as ethics and morality.
Another Alitha of note was Alitha Browne, an American artist and painter who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. She was known for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, and her works were exhibited in several prominent galleries and museums during her lifetime.
Overall, while the name Alitha has a rich historical lineage dating back to ancient Greece, it has remained relatively uncommon throughout the centuries. However, its association with the concept of "truth" and "sincerity" has imbued it with a sense of depth and meaning that has resonated with those who have chosen to bear it.
People
Alitha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Alitha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with A
Other first names starting with A with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Alitha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Alitha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 29 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Alitha going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 11,819,115 US residents.
Is Alitha a common name?
We classify Alitha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 46% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 33 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Alitha most popular?
The single biggest year for Alitha was 1979, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Alitha is about 53 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Alitha in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Alitha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Alitha in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Alitha still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Alitha in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Alitha can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Alitha?
For a quick modern take, check how many people have the name Alitha on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org.