Rieta
A feminine name derived from the Germanic name Richardette, a diminutive form of Richard.
Name Census estimates that about 8 living Americans carry the first name Rieta. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Rieta today is around 78 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rieta births was 1934 (9 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rieta. 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 Rieta is about 78 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Rietas were born before 1958.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Rieta. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
8
~ 1 in 42,844,292 Americans
Peak year
1934
9 babies that year
Average age
78
years old
1957 SSA rank
#6,835
Tracked since 1934
Popularity
Rieta: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rieta from the 1930s through to the 1950s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1930s, with 9 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1930s peak, Rieta remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Rieta 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 Rieta 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 Rieta
The name Rieta is believed to have originated from the Dutch and Low German languages, with its roots dating back to the medieval period in Europe. It is thought to be a diminutive form of the Germanic name Richarda, which itself is derived from the Old High German words "rihhi" and "hart," meaning "powerful" and "brave," respectively.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rieta can be found in the Dutch city of Utrecht, where a woman named Rieta van Utrecht was mentioned in a 14th-century chronicle as a prominent figure in the local community. Another notable bearer of the name was Rieta van Buren, a 16th-century Dutch noblewoman who played a significant role in the Dutch Revolt against Spanish rule.
In the realm of literature, the name Rieta makes an appearance in the works of the 17th-century Dutch poet and playwright, Joost van den Vondel. One of his plays, "Gysbreght van Aemstel," features a character named Rieta, who represents the personification of loyalty and courage.
Moving into the 18th century, we find Rieta Nachenius, a Dutch painter and engraver who was renowned for her intricate portraiture and landscapes. Born in 1718, she was one of the few female artists of her time to achieve widespread recognition.
Fast-forwarding to the 20th century, we encounter Rieta Oortwijn, a Dutch resistance fighter during World War II. Born in 1920, she risked her life to help Allied pilots escape from Nazi-occupied territories, displaying remarkable bravery in the face of adversity.
Another notable bearer of the name is Rieta de Soelen, a Dutch singer and actress who rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. Known for her powerful vocals and stage presence, she left an indelible mark on the Dutch entertainment industry.
While the name Rieta may not be as common today as it once was, its historical significance and associations with courage, loyalty, and artistic expression have cemented its place in the annals of Dutch and Low German culture.
People
Rieta + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rieta 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
Rieta: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rieta?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 8 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rieta 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 42,844,292 US residents.
Is Rieta a common name?
We classify Rieta as "Very Rare". It ranks above 24.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 20 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rieta most popular?
The single biggest year for Rieta was 1934, when 9 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rieta is about 78 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 Rieta in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Rieta a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Rieta 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 Rieta still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Rieta 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 Rieta 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 people are named Rieta?
Find out how many Americans are named Rieta on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.