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Rita as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Rita

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The baby name Rita is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced REE-tə (English: /ˈriːtə/); REE-tah (Spanish/Italian: /ˈrita/).

Gender: Female
Syllables: 2.0
Pronunciation: REE-tə (English: /ˈriːtə/); REE-tah (Spanish/Italian: /ˈrita/)

What is the meaning of the name Rita ?

The baby name Rita is a Female name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced REE-tə (English: /ˈriːtə/); REE-tah (Spanish/Italian: /ˈrita/).

Rita is in Origin.

Rita is a pan-European and South Asian feminine name, most often a short form of Margarita/Margherita, from Greek Margarites via Latin Margarita, meaning "pearl." In Italian the longer form also names the daisy, but the root sense remains the gem. In Slavic languages (e.g., Russian) it functions as the everyday diminutive of Margarita. In South Asia, Rita can also be interpreted through Sanskrit rta, "cosmic order, truth," giving the name a parallel sense of righteousness.

Use spread across Catholic Europe through devotion to Saint Rita of Cascia (1381-1457), fixing Rita as an independent baptismal name in Italy, Spain, and Portugal; it later traveled widely with migration and cinema. Mid-century stars like Rita Hayworth and Rita Moreno, and scientist Rita Levi-Montalcini, boosted its global profile. Related forms include Margarita, Marguerite, Margarida, Margareta, and Margherita; cognate short forms such as Greta and Margot, and English Daisy, share the same root.

Rita has the following similar or variant Names

Famous people with the name Rita

Rita Hayworth Actor · Born 1918 · United States Rita Hayworth was a glamorous American actress and dancer, most famous for her role in the film 'Gilda'. She also starred in 'Cover Girl' and 'The Lady from Shanghai', becoming one of the most popular actresses of the 1940s. Rita Ora Actor · Born 1990 · United Kingdom Rita Ora is a British singer and actress who gained fame with her hit single 'Hot Right Now'. She has also appeared in films like 'Fifty Shades of Grey' and served as a coach on 'The Voice UK'. Born in 1990, she continues to make waves in the entertainment industry with her music and acting roles. Rita Moreno Actor · Born 1931 · United States Rita Moreno is a famous actor from the United States, best known for her role as Anita in the film West Side Story. She has had a remarkable career spanning several decades, also appearing in The Electric Company and the TV series One Day at a Time.
Rita Wilson Actor · Born 1956 · United States Rita Wilson is an American actor and producer, best known for her roles in films like 'Sleepless in Seattle' and 'Jingle All the Way'. She has also made a name for herself in the music industry with albums such as 'AM/FM'. Rita Lee Actor · Born 1947 · Brazil Rita Lee was a Brazilian singer and songwriter, best known as a member of the influential rock band Os Mutantes. She also had a successful solo career with hits like 'Lança Perfume' and 'Mania de Você'. Her music blended rock with Brazilian rhythms, making her a beloved figure in Brazilian music. Rita Coolidge Actor · Born 1945 · United States Rita Coolidge is best known as a talented singer and songwriter from the United States. She gained fame in the 1970s with hits like 'Higher and Higher' and 'We're All Alone'. In addition to her music career, she has also acted in films and television.

Rita – Popularity by country

Based on birth registration data from national statistics agencies.

Country Gender Year Rank Born of
Ireland Girls 2025 #1 — 874
Germany Girls 2025 #1 — 411
MT Girls 0 #3 741 3,773
TM 0 #4 1 66
ET 0 #6 1 246
MU 0 #6 510 3,613
MU Girls 0 #7 3,481 8,539
PT 0 #7 1,980 4,161
FJ Girls 0 #9 1 583
PT Girls 0 #9 14,027 7,952
LT Girls 0 #10 1,111 1,904
GH Girls 0 #11 2,141 6,973
HT 0 #12 1 399
BF Girls 0 #14 4 315
KR Girls 0 #15 1 572
ID Girls 0 #16 116 3,319
BW 0 #18 2 960
LB 0 #18 4,924 13,263
MV 0 #19 1 644
MT 0 #21 23 1,767
HN 0 #22 1 704
HU Girls 0 #22 1,036 3,308
NA 0 #27 7 2,537
BN 0 #29 4 2,297
LT 0 #30 74 949
IT Girls 0 #31 97,963 9,415
AO Girls 0 #32 302 4,575
MO 0 #32 21 2,706
BI Girls 0 #33 1 726
MD 0 #33 2 434
ID 0 #34 6 2,238
MV Girls 0 #34 2 2,021
TM Girls 0 #34 2 574
TW Girls 0 #35 455 8,139
NG Girls 0 #36 7,952 15,093
EE 0 #37 1 1,051
HN Girls 0 #37 2 884
HU 0 #37 113 1,675
TW 0 #38 66 4,523
GE 0 #39 6 997
GH 0 #40 351 5,396
LU Girls 0 #47 184 4,850
BR Girls 0 #49 8,979 12,708
CM 0 #52 5 2,592
LU 0 #52 15 2,830
AO 0 #53 24 2,729
CN Girls 0 #53 731 8,829
CY 0 #54 7 1,632
PR 0 #55 1 1,497
CN 0 #60 26 3,857
CY Girls 0 #60 65 3,755
KW Girls 0 #61 891 19,177
IN Girls 0 #62 1,921 13,121
BD Girls 0 #66 661 8,413
IN 0 #66 6 2,963
AL Girls 0 #67 233 4,141
AL 0 #68 9 2,372
GE Girls 0 #68 38 1,564
MO Girls 0 #69 238 7,056
JP 0 #70 8 4,057
AZ Girls 0 #72 4 1,051
AE Girls 0 #74 885 20,968
EE Girls 0 #74 69 1,888
MD Girls 0 #74 17 865
BN Girls 0 #75 32 5,459
SI 0 #75 6 1,612
QA 0 #77 24 7,011
QA Girls 0 #79 316 15,378
HK Girls 0 #80 2,007 16,104
GR Girls 0 #85 201 6,293
NG 0 #85 212 5,926
PH 0 #85 12 5,607
AF Girls 0 #88 7 2,402
IT 0 #88 3,820 4,183
OM Girls 0 #88 379 15,987
KZ 0 #90 5 1,452
JM 0 #92 2 3,714
SI Girls 0 #95 88 2,769
OM 0 #97 20 6,215
IL Girls 0 #98 1,364 11,648
Germany Girls 0 #99 4,300 4,949
PA 0 #100 31 3,797
KW 0 #101 16 5,216
EC 0 #102 14 2,502
RU Girls 0 #104 1,502 11,913
HK 0 #108 340 8,483
Switzerland Girls 2024 #114 22 1,786
IQ 0 #114 16 3,533
CR 0 #115 44 5,526
Norway Girls 2024 #117 5 444
GR 0 #117 18 3,911
NL Girls 0 #117 3,350 5,933
DK Girls 0 #122 296 7,429
PA Girls 0 #122 627 9,861
AR Girls 0 #123 1,574 8,289
CR Girls 0 #123 883 11,342
PS Girls 0 #123 843 10,981
EE Boys 0 #125 1 2,087
KZ Girls 0 #126 336 5,862
BW Girls 0 #127 22 4,216
AE 0 #128 50 10,220
JO 0 #128 10 2,158
RS Girls 0 #130 8 1,651
CY Boys 0 #131 1 3,473
BR 0 #134 264 5,969
BN Boys 0 #139 1 6,332
PR Girls 0 #140 22 3,171
UY Girls 0 #142 835 6,731
NA Girls 0 #143 83 7,146
LT Boys 0 #144 8 2,166
BD 0 #145 84 5,992
CM Girls 0 #145 793 11,671
BW Boys 0 #152 3 4,685
EC Girls 0 #152 91 3,650
UY 0 #156 22 2,477
Austria Girls 0 #157 486 1,885
PS 0 #157 62 5,692
RU 0 #157 33 3,641
AR 0 #160 27 2,915
JO Girls 0 #165 210 7,570
Finland Girls 0 #166 425 1,368
Sweden Girls 2022 #170 10 1,568
BO Girls 0 #172 986 9,488
DK 0 #172 32 5,198
HU Boys 0 #172 3 3,954
Austria 0 #173 41 850
MT Boys 0 #174 6 4,064
IL 0 #175 102 6,291
HR 0 #178 4 2,081
CZ 0 #179 8 3,154
Spain Girls 0 #179 3,440 5,561
SG Girls 0 #179 653 18,916
PE Girls 0 #185 2,682 14,861
JP Girls 0 #190 56 6,592
SY 0 #192 1,365 11,684
MY Girls 0 #195 1,805 24,821
SD Girls 0 #198 158 7,678
ZA Girls 0 #198 2,972 25,928
PL 0 #201 12 2,600
SA Girls 0 #205 1,223 25,931
PL Girls 0 #208 199 5,096
SI Boys 0 #210 2 3,402
BG Girls 0 #213 11 3,559
SG 0 #213 57 11,010
LU Boys 0 #218 3 4,970
JM Girls 0 #219 41 7,507
BG Boys 0 #220 1 3,850
IR 0 #223 9 4,221
Finland Girls 2026 #224 1,784 3,895
NL 0 #224 180 2,481
CL Girls 0 #231 1,583 14,098
MO Boys 0 #233 2 5,842
PE 0 #234 77 6,350
Finland 0 #236 72 830
HR Girls 0 #237 53 3,687
MX Girls 0 #237 3,903 17,781
CZ Girls 0 #241 103 5,378
AO Boys 0 #242 8 5,568
IQ Girls 0 #242 314 11,303
EC Boys 0 #246 1 3,322
Germany 0 #249 208 2,542
Canada Girls 2024 #251 35 2,795
NA Boys 0 #251 3 6,830
PH Girls 0 #251 141 13,098
France Girls 2021 #253 162 3,185
TW Boys 0 #255 2 7,111
HR Boys 0 #259 1 3,997
Spain 0 #263 206 2,326
SA 0 #270 26 10,560
MY 0 #272 59 12,352
GR Boys 0 #273 1 6,912
BO 0 #277 105 6,868
GT 0 #281 34 5,948
MA 0 #282 3,169 20,986
GH Boys 0 #286 61 8,138
KZ Boys 0 #292 5 6,578
PT Boys 0 #294 75 7,951
AL Boys 0 #295 9 5,122
JP Boys 0 #302 2 7,909
CZ Boys 0 #303 3 6,530
DZ 0 #304 2,180 20,130
EG 0 #304 100 6,387
CL 0 #320 93 6,867
ZA 0 #320 128 14,421
CN Boys 0 #329 3 9,639
DK Boys 0 #331 2 7,401
MX 0 #338 76 8,339
MU Boys 0 #340 18 8,477
GT Girls 0 #343 175 7,500
CO Girls 0 #346 1,736 16,140
YE 0 #352 30 8,639
EG Girls 0 #361 1,062 14,742
BH 0 #364 192 17,937
JO Boys 0 #368 10 7,057
PH Boys 0 #406 3 11,440
IR Girls 0 #407 125 8,334
UY Boys 0 #407 7 5,922
CO 0 #429 52 7,768
LY 0 #431 106 12,703
SD Boys 0 #436 10 10,523
AR Boys 0 #445 23 7,628
RU Boys 0 #481 25 12,621
GT Boys 0 #499 1 7,625
PA Boys 0 #502 4 9,305
CR Boys 0 #503 8 10,188
HK Boys 0 #504 24 12,905
BD Boys 0 #515 62 10,045
CM Boys 0 #522 29 12,054
PS Boys 0 #536 13 10,655
IR Boys 0 #562 4 10,162
TN 0 #579 277 13,765
BO Boys 0 #583 10 9,244
IL Boys 0 #589 19 10,983
BR Boys 0 #624 129 12,213
IQ Boys 0 #651 17 13,071
CL Boys 0 #655 11 13,390
QA Boys 0 #665 43 18,093
SG Boys 0 #678 20 17,960
KW Boys 0 #688 82 18,755
United States Girls 2024 #758 159 8,487
NG Boys 0 #833 119 16,906
OM Boys 0 #835 47 17,948
PE Boys 0 #847 32 14,506
EG Boys 0 #858 29 15,035
TR 0 #864 378 19,440
Spain Boys 0 #900 31 5,610
CO Boys 0 #905 16 15,656
Germany Boys 0 #922 31 5,697
IT Boys 0 #927 574 10,046
MX Boys 0 #929 54 16,355
IN Boys 0 #937 65 16,750
NL Boys 0 #937 15 5,873
AE Boys 0 #1,027 66 22,615
MY Boys 0 #1,037 75 25,439
ZA Boys 0 #1,138 41 25,619
SA Boys 0 #1,418 197 28,008

Rita is popular in 98 countries — most recent births per country:

France
Norway
Ireland
Canada
Switzerland

Did we miss something about this name? Let us know!

People also ask about Rita

Rita is predominantly a girl's name.
Rita is a 2 syllable name, pronounced REE-tə (English: /ˈriːtə/); REE-tah (Spanish/Italian: /ˈrita/).
Common nicknames and spelling variations include Margarita, Margaret, Marguerite, Margherita and Ritta.
Across languages, Rita has these equivalents: Margaret (English), Margarita (Spanish), Margherita (Italian), Marguerite (French), Margarida (Portuguese), and 1 more.
Yes, very popular — Rita ranked #1 in Ireland in 2025, and appears in official birth registries across 11 countries.
Rita ranks highest in Ireland (#1 in 2025).
Rita's popularity is rising significantly. It moved from #326 in 2011 to #253 in 2021 in France.
Yes — 13 notable people named Rita are in our database, including Rita Hayworth (Actor), Rita Ora (Actor), Rita Moreno (Actor).