Theretha
A feminine name derived from the Greek word "therapeuein" meaning "to serve".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Theretha. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Theretha today is around 67 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Theretha births was 1963 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Theretha. 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 Theretha is about 67 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Therethas were born before 1969.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Theretha. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
1963
6 babies that year
Average age
67
years old
1963 SSA rank
#6,527
Tracked since 1926
Popularity
Theretha: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Theretha from the 1920s through to the 1960s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 10 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1950s peak, Theretha remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Theretha 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 Theretha 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 Theretha
The name Theretha has its origins in ancient Greece, derived from the Greek word "therapeuo," which means "to heal" or "to attend to." This name was popular in the ancient Greek world, particularly among those associated with the practice of medicine and healing arts.
In the early days of Christianity, the name Theretha gained popularity as it was associated with the concept of spiritual healing and nurturing. Some early Christian texts mention Theretha as a name given to women who dedicated their lives to acts of charity and caring for the sick and needy.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Theretha can be found in the writings of the 4th-century Christian scholar, St. Jerome. He mentions a woman named Theretha who was a renowned healer and caretaker in the city of Antioch during the Roman Empire.
During the Middle Ages, the name Theretha was relatively uncommon, but it experienced a resurgence in popularity during the Renaissance period. One notable figure from this era was Theretha Agrippina (1515-1592), an Italian physician and herbalist who made significant contributions to the field of natural medicine.
In the 17th century, Theretha von Freyberg (1628-1694) was a German noblewoman and philanthropist who founded several hospitals and orphanages throughout the Holy Roman Empire. Her dedication to caring for the less fortunate earned her the admiration of her contemporaries and cemented the name Theretha's association with compassion and selflessness.
Another notable figure was Theretha Backer (1763-1835), a Dutch artist and engraver who gained recognition for her intricate and detailed works depicting scenes from nature and everyday life. Her artistic talent and attention to detail were considered exceptional for her time.
In the 19th century, Theretha Bentwich (1839-1921) was a British educator and social reformer who advocated for the education and empowerment of women. She founded several schools and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of underprivileged women and children.
One of the most recent historical figures bearing the name Theretha was Theretha Merritt (1906-1984), an American author and journalist who wrote extensively about the civil rights movement and the struggles faced by African Americans in the mid-20th century. Her works shed light on the harsh realities of segregation and racial injustice, making her an influential voice for social change.
People
Theretha + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Theretha as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Theretha: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Theretha?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Theretha 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Theretha a common name?
We classify Theretha as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 21 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Theretha most popular?
The single biggest year for Theretha was 1963, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Theretha is about 67 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Theretha a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Theretha 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.