Bunita
A feminine name of Spanish origin meaning "beautiful".
Name Census estimates that about 18 living Americans carry the first name Bunita. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Bunita today is around 68 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Bunita births was 1946 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Bunita. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Bunita is about 68 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Bunitas were born before 1968.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Bunita. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
18
~ 1 in 19,041,908 Americans
Peak year
1946
6 babies that year
Average age
68
years old
1970 SSA rank
#8,119
Tracked since 1946
Popularity
Bunita: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Bunita from the 1940s through to the 1970s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1950s, with 15 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1950s peak, Bunita remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bunita by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Bunita during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Bunita
The given name Bunita has its origins in the Spanish language. It is a feminine name derived from the Spanish word "bonita," which means "beautiful" or "pretty." The name Bunita gained popularity in Spanish-speaking countries, particularly in Latin America and Spain, during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Bunita is believed to have been first used as a given name during the Spanish Renaissance period, when there was a renewed appreciation for classical art, literature, and culture. The name's association with beauty and grace made it a popular choice among families seeking to bestow a name with positive connotations upon their daughters.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Bunita can be found in the works of Spanish playwright and poet Lope de Vega (1562-1635), who was known for his extensive literary output and often incorporated characters with unique names in his plays and poetry.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Bunita. One such example is Bunita Marcus (1922-2003), an American journalist and author who was instrumental in documenting the civil rights movement in the United States. Her memoir, "A Voice for the People: The Life and Work of Harold Weston," shed light on the struggles and achievements of African American activists during the mid-20th century.
Another famous Bunita was Bunita Muñoz (1928-1999), a Mexican actress and singer who rose to prominence in the Golden Age of Mexican cinema. She appeared in numerous films and television shows, showcasing her talent and versatility as an actress.
In the field of literature, Bunita Williams (1933-2010) was an acclaimed African American poet and educator. Her poetry collections, such as "Portrait Masks" and "Smoke Dreams," explored themes of identity, race, and the human experience, earning her critical acclaim and recognition within the literary community.
Bunita Martinez (1925-2003) was a renowned artist and educator from New Mexico, known for her vibrant paintings that celebrated the rich cultural heritage of the American Southwest. Her works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States, showcasing the beauty and diversity of her artistic vision.
It is worth noting that while the name Bunita has been primarily associated with Spanish and Latin American cultures, it has also gained popularity in other parts of the world, particularly among families who appreciate its aesthetic appeal and positive connotations.
People
Bunita + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Bunita as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with B
Other first names starting with B with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Bunita: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Bunita?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 18 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Bunita going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 19,041,908 US residents.
Is Bunita a common name?
We classify Bunita as "Very Rare". It ranks above 38.4% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 26 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Bunita most popular?
The single biggest year for Bunita was 1946, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Bunita is about 68 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Bunita in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Bunita a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Bunita in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Bunita still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Bunita in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Bunita can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How common is the name Bunita?
See how many people have the name Bunita on HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site built around that single question.