Arethia
A feminine name of Greek origin meaning "excessively virtuous" or "excellent virtue".
Name Census estimates that about 20 living Americans carry the first name Arethia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Arethia today is around 58 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Arethia births was 1967 (8 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Arethia. 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 Arethia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
20
~ 1 in 17,137,717 Americans
Peak year
1967
8 babies that year
Average age
58
years old
1971 SSA rank
#8,411
Tracked since 1928
Popularity
Arethia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Arethia from the 1920s through to the 1970s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1960s, with 18 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1960s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Arethia 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 Arethia 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 Arethia
The name Arethia has its origins in ancient Greek culture, traced back to the Hellenic period around the 5th century BC. It is believed to be derived from the Greek word "arête," meaning virtue, excellence, or moral courage. The name carries connotations of strength, nobility, and admirable character.
In its earliest recorded use, the name Arethia appeared in ancient Greek literature and philosophical texts, often associated with ideals of virtue and moral excellence. One notable reference can be found in the writings of Plato, where the concept of arête is extensively discussed as a fundamental principle of ethical behavior and personal growth.
Throughout the centuries, the name Arethia has been borne by several notable figures, though its usage has been relatively uncommon. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was Arethia of Cyrene, a Greek philosopher and mathematician from the 4th century BC, known for her contributions to the field of geometry.
Another historical figure named Arethia was a Christian martyr from the 3rd century AD, who faced persecution during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian. Her unwavering faith and courage in the face of adversity earned her a place in early Christian hagiographies.
In the Byzantine era, Arethia was the name of a renowned scholar and translator from the 9th century AD. Her work in translating and preserving ancient Greek texts played a crucial role in the preservation of Classical knowledge during the Middle Ages.
Moving forward in time, Arethia Gale was an American author and poet from the late 19th century, renowned for her works exploring themes of nature, spirituality, and the human condition.
Lastly, Arethia Everett was a prominent Civil Rights activist and educator from the mid-20th century, who dedicated her life to fighting for racial equality and improving educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.
While the name Arethia has maintained a relatively low profile throughout history, its rich heritage and associations with virtue, excellence, and moral fortitude have endured, making it a unique and meaningful choice for those seeking a name steeped in ancient wisdom and cultural significance.
People
Arethia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Arethia 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
Arethia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Arethia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 20 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Arethia 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 17,137,717 US residents.
Is Arethia a common name?
We classify Arethia as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 28 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Arethia most popular?
The single biggest year for Arethia was 1967, when 8 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Arethia is about 58 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 Arethia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Arethia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Arethia 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 Arethia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Arethia 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 Arethia 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 Americans are named Arethia?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.