Ireta
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly meaning "vigorous".
Name Census estimates that about 67 living Americans carry the first name Ireta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Ireta today is around 83 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Ireta births was 1920 (22 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Ireta. 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
- • The typical person named Ireta is about 83 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Iretas were born before 1953.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Ireta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
67
~ 1 in 5,115,736 Americans
Peak year
1920
22 babies that year
Average age
83
years old
1960 SSA rank
#5,953
Tracked since 1903
Popularity
Ireta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Ireta from the 1900s through to the 1960s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1920s, with 130 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1920s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ireta 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 Ireta during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Iretas live
Origin
Meaning and history of Ireta
The name Ireta is of Basque origin, originating from the Basque region spanning parts of northern Spain and southwestern France. It likely emerged in the early medieval period, around the 6th to 8th centuries CE. The name is thought to be derived from the Basque word "ireta", meaning "forest" or "woodlands".
In historical records, the name appears as early as the 9th century CE, with references to a Basque noblewoman named Ireta de Mikelene. She was a prominent figure in the Kingdom of Navarre, known for her influential role in shaping the region's cultural and political landscape during that era.
Another notable figure bearing the name Ireta was Ireta de Oloron, a 12th-century Basque philosopher and scholar. She is credited with contributing to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of logic and metaphysics, and her writings were widely circulated throughout medieval Europe.
In the 14th century, Ireta de Mendoza, a Spanish noblewoman from the powerful Mendoza family, played a significant role in the unification of the Iberian kingdoms. Her diplomatic efforts and strategic alliances helped pave the way for the eventual formation of the Kingdom of Spain.
During the Renaissance period, Ireta Giuliani, an Italian poet and playwright from Florence, gained recognition for her lyrical works and theatrical productions. Born in 1475, her creative talents were celebrated by contemporaries and helped shape the cultural landscape of the time.
In more recent history, Ireta Arizmendi was a renowned Basque artist and sculptor from the late 19th century. Her sculptures, often depicting traditional Basque themes and folklore, have become iconic representations of the region's artistic heritage.
While the name Ireta has its roots in the Basque culture, it has also found usage in other parts of the world, albeit to a lesser extent. However, the historical significance and cultural connections of the name remain rooted in the Basque region, where it has been a enduring part of the local heritage and identity.
People
Ireta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Ireta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with I
Other first names starting with I with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Ireta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Ireta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 67 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Ireta 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 5,115,736 US residents.
Is Ireta a common name?
We classify Ireta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 58.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 448 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Ireta most popular?
The single biggest year for Ireta was 1920, when 22 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Ireta is about 83 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Ireta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Ireta 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.
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.