Lucretia is a feminine given name of Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Lucretius. It is believed to have originated from the Latin word "lucrum," meaning "profit" or "wealth." The name gained prominence in ancient Rome during the Republican era, around the 5th century BC.

The earliest known historical figure bearing the name Lucretia was the legendary Roman matron Lucretia, whose tragic story is recounted by the Roman historian Livy. According to legend, Lucretia was a virtuous and beautiful woman who was raped by Sextus Tarquinius, the son of the tyrannical king Lucius Tarquinius Superbus. Overwhelmed by shame, Lucretia took her own life, an act that ultimately led to the overthrow of the monarchy and the establishment of the Roman Republic. Her sacrifice became a symbol of honor and virtue in Roman culture.

Throughout ancient Roman history, the name Lucretia was associated with nobility and virtue. Several notable Roman women bore this name, including Lucretia Mela, the granddaughter of the Roman general Pompeius Magnus, and Lucretia Borgia (1480-1519), the infamous daughter of Pope Alexander VI, who was known for her involvement in political intrigues and alleged crimes.

During the Renaissance period, the name Lucretia gained popularity among the European aristocracy, partly due to the influence of classical literature and the admiration for Roman culture. One famous bearer of the name was Lucrezia de' Medici (1545-1561), a member of the powerful Medici family in Florence, who was renowned for her beauty and intellect.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, the name Lucretia appeared in various literary works, including the tragedy "The Rape of Lucrece" by William Shakespeare (1594) and the novel "Clarissa" by Samuel Richardson (1748), where the character Clarissa Harlowe was nicknamed Lucretia.

Other notable historical figures named Lucretia include Lucretia Coffin Mott (1793-1900), an American Quaker minister and abolitionist who played a pivotal role in the women's rights movement, and Lucretia Rudolph Garfield (1832-1918), the wife of U.S. President James A. Garfield.