Arleta is a feminine given name of Slavic origin, specifically from Poland and other Slavic countries. It is derived from the Latin word 'Aralia', which is believed to mean 'bear'. The name Arleta was popularized by the Polish poet Adam Mickiewicz in his epic poem "Pan Tadeusz". In this work, Mickiewicz used the name Arleta for a character who embodies grace, beauty, and nobility. Consequently, the name has been associated with these qualities in Slavic cultures. It is also notable that Arleta is sometimes considered a variant of the name Arial or Ariel.
The name Arleta saw a significant rise in popularity during the early to mid-20th century, with a notable spike between 1914 and 1932, peaking at 32 births in 1932. However, it began declining thereafter, dropping below an average of 10 births per year by the late 1960s, with only five births recorded in 2023. Overall, there were a total of 1030 births named Arleta over this period.