Rethia
Meaning unknown, potentially a feminine derivative of Retha.
Name Census estimates that about 20 living Americans carry the first name Rethia. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rethia today is around 71 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rethia births was 1927 (7 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rethia. 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 Rethia is about 71 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rethias were born before 1965.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rethia. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
20
~ 1 in 17,137,717 Americans
Peak year
1927
7 babies that year
Average age
71
years old
1958 SSA rank
#5,958
Tracked since 1927
Popularity
Rethia: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rethia from the 1920s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 18 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
Rethia 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 Rethia 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 Rethia
The name Rethia has its origins tracing back to ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "rhetikos," which means "fluent" or "eloquent." In those times, it was often given to individuals known for their oratory skills and command of language.
During the classical era, the name gained popularity in the region of Attica, particularly in the city-state of Athens, where rhetoric and public speaking were highly valued. It is believed that Rethia was the name of a renowned Athenian orator from the 5th century BCE, though historical records are scarce.
As the Greek civilization expanded, the name spread to other parts of the Mediterranean world, including the Roman Empire. In Rome, the name was Latinized to "Rhetia" and was occasionally bestowed upon individuals with a talent for rhetoric or a connection to the art of persuasive speech.
One notable figure bearing the name Rethia was a Greek philosopher and rhetorician from the 1st century CE, who authored several works on the art of public speaking. Unfortunately, few details about her life have survived through the ages.
In the Middle Ages, the name Rethia resurfaced in various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Greek cultural influences. A notable example is Rethia of Byzantium, a 12th-century scholar and author from the Byzantine Empire, known for her contributions to the fields of literature and philosophy.
During the Renaissance period, the name experienced a revival, particularly among humanist scholars and intellectuals who drew inspiration from classical Greek and Roman traditions. One such figure was Rethia Veneta, an Italian Renaissance poet and playwright from the 15th century, whose works were widely acclaimed for their eloquence and literary merit.
As the name Rethia continued to be used throughout history, it was often associated with individuals who excelled in the art of communication, whether through writing, public speaking, or other forms of expression. It remains a name with a rich cultural heritage, reflecting the enduring value placed on eloquence and the mastery of language.
People
Rethia + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rethia as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rethia: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rethia?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 20 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rethia 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 Rethia a common name?
We classify Rethia 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, 37 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rethia most popular?
The single biggest year for Rethia was 1927, when 7 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rethia is about 71 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 Rethia in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rethia a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rethia 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 Rethia still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rethia 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 Rethia 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 Rethia?
See how many people share the name Rethia on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.