Girl Name
Retha
Retha is a girl's name whose meaning is not firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl's name across several naming traditions, and it is rare in the United States today — outside the SSA top 1,000.
Retha is a girl baby name. It currently sits in the Rare tier of US baby names for 2026, and parents who love Retha often also consider Reatha.
Retha meaning, origin, and usage
Meaning: Retha has a distinctive sound and evolving modern usage.
Origin: Multiple naming traditions are associated with this name.
Pronunciation: Baby Name Studio pronounces Retha as R·E·T·H·A, with 5 letters and a girl usage profile.
Popularity: According to Baby Name Studio's 2026 tracker, Retha is an uncommon, standout choice in the Rare tier.
Retha variants, nicknames, middle names, and sibling names
- Variants and spelling ideas: Rethaa, Rethae, Rethay, Reth.
- Nicknames: Ret and R.
- Middle names: Pair Retha with a middle name that balances its substantial sound; start with the Retha middle name generator.
- Sibling names: Reatha, Reita, Reta, Reda, Reed — full picks on the sibling names for Retha guide for a cohesive sibset.
- Similar names: Looking for names that sound like Retha? Browse our names like Retha guide for phonetic-neighbor picks.
- Explore more: use the Baby Name Explorer, name search, AI name generator, and Baby Name Studio homepage.
Frequently asked about Retha
What does the name Retha mean?
Retha has no single meaning that is firmly attested in the historical record. It is used as a girl name in US birth records, and parents usually choose it for its sound rather than a documented meaning.
What is the origin of Retha?
The exact origin of Retha is debated, but it has been used across multiple naming traditions.
How do you pronounce Retha?
Retha has 5 letters and is most commonly stressed on the first syllable.
Is Retha a boy's or girl's name?
Retha is primarily used as a girl's name in US records.
How popular is Retha in 2026?
In our 2026 popularity tracker, Retha sits in the Rare tier — an uncommon, standout choice.
What names are similar to Retha?
Names that share Retha's sound and style include Reatha, Reita, Reta, Reda, Reed.
What middle names pair well with Retha?
Good middle-name fits for Retha pair an opposite syllable rhythm: if Retha is short, lean longer (e.g. classical or three-syllable middles); if Retha is longer, a one-syllable middle keeps the full name from feeling heavy.
What are good sibling names for Retha?
Sibling names that pair naturally with Retha share its rhythm without rhyming — Reatha, Reita, Reta all sit comfortably alongside it on a shortlist.