Rita
Rita: name meaning, origin and popularity
Meaning and origin of Rita
- A female given name from the Romance languages, Italian, or Spanish.
- A female given name from Sanskrit.
Etymology
From Romance (Italian Rita, Spanish Rita). A shortening of Italian Margherita, and Spanish Margarita, cognates of English Margaret. An Italian Saint Rita was canonized in 1900. The English name came into regular use in early twentieth century.
How popular is Rita?
Since 1880, 284,452 girls and 778 boys in the U.S. have been named Rita (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #42 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #1276 in 1931. In 2025, 174 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
More Romance languages girl names
Sibling name ideas for Rita
Sister and brother names that share Rita's Romance languages roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Rita FAQ
What does the name Rita mean?
A female given name from the Romance languages, Italian, or Spanish. A female given name from Sanskrit. From Romance (Italian Rita, Spanish Rita). A shortening of Italian Margherita, and Spanish Margarita, cognates of English Margaret. An Italian Saint Rita was canonized in 1900. The English name came into regular use in early twentieth century.
What is the origin of the name Rita?
Rita is listed as a name of Romance languages origin.
How popular is the name Rita?
Since 1880, 284,452 girls and 778 boys in the U.S. have been named Rita (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #42 in 1930. Its highest rank for boys was #1276 in 1931. In 2025, 174 babies were given the name, outside the top 1,000.
Is Rita a boy or girl name?
Rita is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 284,452 girls and 778 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.