Rita first name popularity, history and meaning

Find out how popular the first name Rita has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Meaning of Rita

A feminine name of disputed origin, possibly derived from "margarita".

Popularity of Rita by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Rita is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Rita being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 164 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Rita.

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 0 164
2022 0 178
2021 0 150
2020 0 185
2019 0 169
2018 0 185
2017 0 207
2016 0 210
2015 0 190
2014 0 171
2013 0 182
2012 0 169
2011 0 169
2010 0 176
2009 0 166
2008 0 186
2007 0 210
2006 0 207
2005 0 219
2004 0 216
2003 0 199
2002 0 244
2001 0 270
2000 0 251
1999 0 228
1998 0 246
1997 0 240
1996 0 303
1995 0 296
1994 0 318
1993 0 341
1992 0 390
1991 0 423
1990 0 434
1989 0 412
1988 0 485
1987 0 518
1986 0 544
1985 0 588
1984 7 607
1983 0 592
1982 0 709
1981 0 855
1980 9 839
1979 5 880
1978 9 892
1977 0 802
1976 0 859
1975 0 883
1974 0 992

The history of the first name Rita

Rita is a female given name that originates from the ancient Greek language. It is derived from the word "arête," which means "virtue" or "excellence." The name is believed to have been in use as early as the 5th century BC among the ancient Greeks.

In Greek mythology, Rita was a minor goddess associated with fertility and the protection of women during childbirth. She was often depicted as a young woman carrying a basket of fruit, symbolizing abundance and prosperity.

The name Rita spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. It was popularized by the veneration of Saint Rita of Cascia, an Italian Augustinian nun who lived from 1381 to 1457. She is known for her devotion to Christ and her ability to perform miracles, and is the patron saint of impossible causes and difficult marriages.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rita comes from the 12th century, when a Spanish noblewoman named Rita de Guzmán was mentioned in historical records. In the 16th century, Rita de Bartonville was a French mystic and herbalist who was renowned for her healing powers.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Rita. Rita Levi-Montalcini (1909-2012) was an Italian Nobel Prize-winning neurologist who made groundbreaking discoveries in the field of neuroscience. Rita Hayworth (1918-1987) was an American actress and dancer, known for her iconic roles in films such as "Gilda" and "The Lady from Shanghai."

Rita Coolidge is an American singer-songwriter born in 1945, known for her work in the genres of rock, pop, and country music. Rita Moreno (born 1931) is a Puerto Rican actress, dancer, and singer who is one of the few performers to have won all four major American entertainment awards: an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony.

Rita Dove (born 1952) is an American poet and essayist who served as the Poet Laureate of the United States from 1993 to 1995. She is known for her lyrical and insightful works that explore themes of identity, culture, and the human experience.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Rita was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rita, please contact us.

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If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!

"Rita first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 13, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/rita-meaning-and-history/.

"Rita first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/rita-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 13 December, 2024

Rita first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/rita-meaning-and-history/.

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