Jaretta
A feminine name of unknown origin, possibly a variant of Jareth.
Name Census estimates that about 19 living Americans carry the first name Jaretta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Jaretta today is around 53 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jaretta births was 1965 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jaretta. 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 Jaretta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
19
~ 1 in 18,039,702 Americans
Peak year
1965
6 babies that year
Average age
53
years old
1983 SSA rank
#10,906
Tracked since 1957
Popularity
Jaretta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jaretta from the 1950s through to the 1980s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1980s, with 11 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jaretta 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 Jaretta 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 Jaretta
The name Jaretta is a feminine given name of uncertain origin, with various theories proposed about its roots. One possibility is that it derives from the Old French name Jarre, which was a diminutive form of the name Gérard. Alternatively, it may have connections to the Italian name Giara or the Spanish name Jara.
Some scholars suggest that Jaretta has ties to the Latin word "garrulus," meaning talkative or chatty. This could imply that the name was initially bestowed upon those with a lively or communicative personality. However, there is no definitive evidence to support this etymology.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Jaretta can be traced back to the late 19th century, primarily in European regions such as France, Italy, and Spain. It is worth noting that the name was relatively uncommon during this time period.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Jaretta was Jaretta Rouillard, a French author who lived from 1876 to 1942. She was known for her contributions to literature, particularly in the realm of children's books and poetry.
Another historical figure bearing this name was Jaretta Mazzoni, an Italian painter who lived between 1892 and 1968. She gained recognition for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, which showcased her talent and unique artistic style.
In the realm of politics, Jaretta Fernández was a Spanish activist and feminist who lived from 1914 to 1998. She played a significant role in advocating for women's rights and social justice during the tumultuous years of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship.
Moving into the 20th century, Jaretta Chambers was an American journalist and writer who lived from 1921 to 2005. She was known for her insightful articles and books on various social and cultural topics, contributing to the literary landscape of her time.
Lastly, Jaretta Byers was a Canadian artist and sculptor who lived from 1930 to 2018. Her works, often crafted from metal and stone, were celebrated for their intricate details and unique perspectives on the natural world.
While the name Jaretta may not be as prevalent today as it once was, these individuals have left an indelible mark on their respective fields, showcasing the richness and diversity associated with this unique moniker.
People
Jaretta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jaretta as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jaretta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jaretta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 19 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jaretta 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 18,039,702 US residents.
Is Jaretta a common name?
We classify Jaretta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 39.1% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 22 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jaretta most popular?
The single biggest year for Jaretta was 1965, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jaretta 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 Jaretta in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Jaretta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Jaretta 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 Jaretta still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Jaretta 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 Jaretta 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 are called Jaretta?
Find out how many Americans are named Jaretta on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.