Laretta as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Laretta

What is the meaning of the name Laretta ?

The baby name Laretta is a Female name , 3 syllables long and is pronounced lah-RET-uh (IPA: /ləˈrɛtə/).

Laretta is Italian, Latin in Origin.

Laretta is a rare English spelling variant of Loretta and Lauretta, the Italian diminutive of Laura, ultimately from Latin laurus meaning laurel. The shift from o or u to a reflects phonetic and orthographic variation in Anglophone records, essentially yielding the same root meaning: laurel or bay, the classical emblem of victory, honor, and poetic achievement.

Usage appears sporadically in the United States from the early 1900s, with modest mid-century visibility when -etta names were fashionable, and a current status as an uncommon, vintage-leaning choice. Closely related forms include Loretta, Lauretta, Loreta, and Lareta; French Laurette and Italian Lauretta share the same base. Nicknames range from Retta and Etta to Lori or Lora, depending on the chosen spelling. Though never widespread, Laretta offers a familiar sound with a distinctive twist and preserves the auspicious laurel symbolism carried by Laura and its many international variants.