Originating from Italy, the name Loreto is of Latin derivation, meaning 'from Lauretum', an ancient Italian town known for its beautiful countryside and lush forests. It is a unisex name, often used for both boys and girls, but is more commonly associated with females in recent times. The name gained popularity due to the Marian shrine, Santa Casa di Loreto, located in the small town of Loreto in the province of Ancona, Italy. This shrine attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, contributing to the spread of the name's usage throughout Europe and beyond.
The name Loreto has seen a varied pattern of popularity over the years, with peaks and valleys in its usage. From 1915 to 1987, there were periods where it gained traction, such as between 1922 and 1930, with consistently higher numbers of births each year, reaching up to 14 births in 1923 and again in 1929. However, from 1988 onwards, the name's popularity appeared to decline significantly, with most years showing only 5-6 births until a slight resurgence since 2017, with 9 births each year. Overall, over the span of these statistics (from 1915 to 2023), there were a total of 494 recorded births named Loreto.