Rita
Italian · Girl · 2 syllables
Popularity & facts
Relative popularity index, 2010–2025Popularity over time
Popularity indexHistorical popularity from 1880–2025 · US Social Security Administration data
About the name Rita
Rita is a short form of Margarita, derived from the Latin "margarita" meaning "pearl," which itself comes from Greek "margarites." The name has roots in the Latin and Greek linguistic traditions centered on the precious gem.
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Etymology
Rita is a short form of Margarita, derived from the Latin "margarita" meaning "pearl," which itself comes from Greek "margarites." The name has roots in the Latin and Greek linguistic traditions centered on the precious gem.
The name is used across Christian cultures, particularly in Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and English-speaking communities, with Saint Rita of Cascia (1381–1457), an Italian Augustinian nun, being a notable historical figure who contributed to the name's popularity in Catholic tradition.
Rita currently ranks #1,287 in the United States as a girl's name. It reached its peak popularity around 1949.
Variants & nicknames
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Sibling name ideas
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, English, German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithu names that sit beautifully beside RitaSimilar names you might like
Names starting with RMore names starting with R
- Rafael
- Rafaela
- Raimundo
- Rahul
- Raija
- Ragnar
- Radha
- Radek
- Rachel
- Radhika
- Raelynn
- Rafferty
- Ragnhild
- Rafe
- Ragna
- Rae
- Ragini
- Raina
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